St Aldhelm's Church, Radipole facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Aldhelm's Church |
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Church of England |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | Radipole, Weymouth, Dorset, England |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | William Henry Randoll Blacking |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Completed | 1941 |
St Aldhelm's Church is a special building in Radipole, Weymouth, England. It's a Church of England church, which means it's part of the main Christian church in England. A person named William Henry Randoll Blacking designed it, and it was built between 1939 and 1941. Over the years, more parts were added to it.
Contents
History of St Aldhelm's Church
St Aldhelm's Church was built because the town of Radipole was growing. The old church, St Ann, was too small. By 1937, Radipole had over 6,000 people, but St Ann's could only fit 250. This meant a new, bigger church was needed.
How the Church Was Funded
People started raising money for the new church in 1936. A man named Mr. Alfred A. Hayward gave a piece of land for the church on Spa Road. He donated it in memory of his wife in December 1936.
- The church's local council helped raise money.
- A group of ladies also worked hard to collect funds.
- Dame Violet Wills from Devon donated £200.
- The Salisbury Diocese (a church region) gave £249.
- The Dorset Church Building Committee gave £300.
Once £2,000 was raised, the church got a special loan of £2,500 in 1938. William Henry Randoll Blacking drew the plans for the church. Ralph Fry was hired as the builder.
Building the Church
The first stone of the church was laid on 17 October 1939. This was done by the Bishop of Salisbury, Right Rev. Neville Lovett. Because there wasn't enough money, the church was built in stages. The first stage included:
- Three sections of the main hall (called the nave).
- The side areas (called the east and west aisles).
- The area around the altar (called the chancel).
This first part cost about £4,700. The back of the church had temporary walls. This was so two more sections could be added later.
Donations and Dedication
When Christ Church in Weymouth closed in 1939, its Rector (the main priest), Rev. E. L. Langston, gave some furniture to St Aldhelm's. This included the pulpit (where sermons are given), the font (for baptisms), and the pews (church benches).
In 1940, Weymouth College also closed. The Rector of Radipole, Rev. W. S. Syson, took twelve special seats from the college chapel. These were put into St Aldhelm's. Many memorials were also moved from the chapel. These included oak panels remembering students who died in World War I. They were placed in a corner of the west aisle to create a special memorial chapel.
St Aldhelm's Church was officially opened and blessed on 15 March 1941. The Bishop of Sherborne, Right Rev. Harold Rodgers, led the ceremony. He did it because the Bishop of Salisbury was unwell.
Later Additions and Improvements
People continued to raise money in the 1950s. A church hall was built behind the church and opened in 1961. This hall was used for many community activities. It was a Sunday school and even had a badminton court.
In 1969, a new porch and rooms for the clergy (church leaders) and choir were added to the front of the church. These were blessed by the Bishop of Sherborne, Right Rev. Victor Pike.
The church's inside was changed in 1979–1980 because more people were attending. The seating was rearranged. Then, the church was extended even more. Rev. Richard Luther started a plan to build a new section with:
- A lounge area.
- A kitchen.
- An office.
- Toilets.
- A creche room (for young children).
New plans were drawn up by K. C. White & Partners. As part of this work, a baptistry (a place for baptisms) was created. The old pews were replaced with chairs, and a new heating system was put in. This new extension was opened on 21 January 1983 by the Bishop of Sherborne, Right Rev. John Kirkham.
In 2010, permission was given to replace the old church hall. The new building, called the St Aldhelm's Church Centre, cost £1.8 million. It was opened in June 2012 by the Bishop of Sherborne, Right Rev. Graham Kings.
Architecture and Design
St Aldhelm's Church is built using special bricks from Poole and purple-grey bricks from Sussex. It also has decorations made from Bath stone. The main supports, called piers, are made from strong engineering bricks.
Inside, the church is painted white. The ceiling looks like a five-sided barrel. It has wooden ribs and panels. The steps in the original chancel and sanctuary (the holiest parts) are made of Purbeck stone. The main floor of the nave is made of pine wood blocks.
The church still has the memorials that came from the college chapel. However, the furniture from Christ Church has since been given to other churches. The organ was built by Norman and Beard and later rebuilt by Henry Willis & Sons. The church's communion table, font, and pulpit are all modern. The church used to have a single bell in a small tower (called a bellcote), but it has been moved for safety reasons.
The chancel has a beautiful stained glass window. It was given to the church by someone who wished to remain anonymous in 1985. Jon Callan of Dorchester designed and made it. The window shows a scene from the Bible called John's vision of the Son of Man.
