St Aldhelm's Roman Catholic Church, Malmesbury facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Aldhelm's Roman Catholic Church
St Aldhelm's Church from Cross Hayes
St Aldhelm's Roman Catholic Church Location in Wiltshire Show map of Wiltshire St Aldhelm's Roman Catholic Church Location in England Show map of England
51°34′59″N 2°05′46″W / 51.583°N 2.096°W / 51.583; -2.096
OS grid reference	ST 93413 87131
Location	Malmesbury, Wiltshire
Country	United Kingdom
Denomination	Catholic Church
History
Founded	1875
Founder(s)	Father Francois Larive MSFS Captain Charles Dewell
Dedication	St Aldhelm
Administration
Parish	Malmesbury
Deanery	St Aldhelm
Metropolis	Archdiocese of Birmingham
Diocese	Diocese of Clifton
Province	Ecclesiastical province of Birmingham

St Aldhelm's Roman Catholic Church is a special church in Malmesbury, Wiltshire, England. It was built in 1875. The church is named after St Aldhelm, who was an important person in Malmesbury's history. He was the leader, called an abbot, at the nearby Malmesbury Abbey. The building next to the church, called the presbytery, is a historic site. It is protected as a Grade II listed building.

What Does St Aldhelm's Church Look Like?

St Aldhelm's Roman Catholic Church is built from rough stone. It has smooth, cut stone details. The church is designed in a style called 14th-century Gothic architecture. This means it has tall, pointed arches and large windows.

The church is set back from a place called Cross Hayes. This area used to be a marketplace. Now it is a car park. The front of the church faces Cross Hayes. It has a big window with two lights and a special three-leaf shape at the top. Two simple, narrow windows are on either side of it.

The Presbytery Building

Right next to the church, on its south side, is the presbytery. This building is also very old and important. It is a Grade II listed building. Part of it used to be a stable in the 1800s. It was built with square-cut limestone. Later, a new part was added to the back using rough limestone.

How St Aldhelm's Church Was Started

The idea for St Aldhelm's Church began in 1875. A French priest named Father Francois Larive started it. He was the first missionary from the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales to work in England.

The idea for a church in Malmesbury came from Captain Charles Goddard Dewell. He was a soldier in the 91st (Argyllshire Highlanders) Regiment of Foot. Captain Dewell was born and grew up in Malmesbury.

A Meeting in India

Father Larive and Captain Dewell met in 1858. This was when Captain Dewell was stationed in a village called Kamptee in India. Captain Dewell had recently become a Roman Catholic. He decided to join the Catholic Church after he got sick while serving in Italy. He really wanted to start a church in his hometown. After many talks with Father Larive, they decided to build a church in Malmesbury.

Finding a Place for the Church

In 1861, Father Larive and Captain Dewell came to Malmesbury. They chose a spot for the church: Cross Hayes House. This house belonged to Captain Dewell. There were some delays in getting the house ready. It was not available until 1867.

In that same year, Captain Dewell became a lay brother in the Society of Jesus. He opened a school, even though many local people were against it. Even the local member of parliament was not happy about it.

A temporary church was set up in 1869. It was on land next to the house that they had just bought. This temporary church was used until the main church opened. The current church opened on July 1, 1875. Father Larive named the church after St Aldhelm. He was the patron saint of the town. St Aldhelm was also the founder and first abbot of Malmesbury Abbey from 675 to 705.

The School Next Door

The place where the old temporary church stood became St. Joseph's Primary School. It was run by the Sisters of St Joseph of Annecy. Father Larive had worked with these sisters before. The school stayed there until 1933. Then, it moved to its current location on Holloway Hill.