St Catherine of Siena, Richmond facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Catherine of Siena, Richmond
St Catherine of Siena, seen from the south east
Religion
Affiliation	Anglican
District	Diocese of Sheffield
Province	York
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	Church
Leadership	Philip Knowles (priest)
Year consecrated	1959
Location
Location	Richmond, Sheffield South Yorkshire, England
Location in Sheffield
Architecture
Architect(s)	Basil Spence
Architectural type	Church
Architectural style	Modernist
Completed	1959
Construction cost	£50000 (£840,000 in 2021)
Specifications
Capacity	300
Length	99 feet
Width	42 feet
Height (max)	56 feet
Materials	Brick

St Catherine of Siena is an Anglican church located in the Richmond area of Sheffield, England. An Anglican church is part of the Church of England, which is a Christian church. This church is known for its modern design and interesting history.

How the Church Started

Long ago, the Richmond area didn't have many people living there. It was part of a larger church area called Handsworth. In the 1930s, many new homes were built in an area called Woodthorpe. Because more people moved in, a small, temporary church building was put up in 1935. It was made of metal sheets and stood where Richmond Road and Hastilar Road meet.

By 1949, the number of people living nearby had grown to over 10,000. The temporary church was too small and old, so a new, bigger church was needed. An architect named Frederick Etchells was asked to draw plans for a new church that could hold 500 people. However, there wasn't enough money to build it at that time.

Designing the New Church

During World War II, another church in Sheffield, St Phillip's Church in Attercliffe, was badly damaged by bombs. The church was given money to help repair it. But because fewer people lived in Attercliffe after the war, the Diocese of Sheffield (the church's local management) asked if this money could be used for the new church in Woodthorpe instead. Everyone agreed.

Frederick Etchells was asked to update his old plans, but he had mostly retired and didn't want the job. So, a different architect, Basil Spence, was chosen. At first, he drew a design similar to another church he had built. But in 1957, he completely changed his plans. He worked with Anthony Blee, who drew the detailed pictures of the church's outside walls.

The new design was for a brick church with a hall next to it. It also had a bell tower connected by a glass walkway and a separate house for the priest. The church looked quite simple, with tall, narrow windows. Its style was inspired by churches designed by Eliel and Eero Saarinen in America.

Building and Opening the Church

Construction of the new church began on the same spot where the old temporary church stood. By April 1959, the building was already well underway. The foundation stone, which is a special stone laid at the start of building, was dedicated by the Bishop of Sheffield and the Earl of Scarborough.

Just before the church opened, an artist named Ralph Beyer carved the church's name by the doorway. St Catherine of Siena officially opened on December 5, 1959. After it opened, the church's area was renamed Richmond, after the larger neighborhood it was now part of. For many years, not as many people came to church as expected. This was because many local residents were either Catholic or Methodist Christians. On average, only about thirty people attended services.

Inside the church, the altar (the table where services are held) is made of black metal with a wooden top. The font (a basin for baptisms) is made of limestone and has fossils in it. More decorations and items were added over the next few years. An organ was put in, and a sculpture by Ronald Pope was added to the bell tower in 1966.

Recent History of the Church

In the late 1980s, more people started coming to St Catherine's. This happened as new families moved into the area. A big repair and cleaning project was finished in 1997. After this, the church was given a special status called Grade II listed. This means it is an important historical building that needs to be protected.

The church follows a style of worship that it calls "Catholic style." This means it has some traditions similar to the Catholic Church. The church does not support women becoming priests. Because of this, it has chosen to be guided by a special bishop called the Provincial episcopal visitor, who is currently the Bishop of Beverley.

Images for kids

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  St Catherine of Siena, seen from the south east