St Columba's Church, Chester facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Columba's Church |
|
|---|---|
.JPG)
Church entrance
|
|
| 53°12′39″N 2°52′21″W / 53.2109°N 2.8726°W | |
| Location | Newton, Chester |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | StColumbaChester.WordPress.com |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Founder(s) | Canon Francis Murphy |
| Dedication | Saint Columba |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Parish church |
| Architect(s) | Francis Prichard |
| Groundbreaking | 6 September 1964 |
| Completed | 19 February 1966 |
| Administration | |
| Deanery | North Cheshire |
| Diocese | Shrewsbury |
| Province | Birmingham |
St Columba's is a Roman Catholic church in Newton, Chester. It was built between 1964 and 1965. You can find it on the corner of Plas Newton Lane and Newhall Road. This area is in the suburbs, just north of Chester city centre. People have described St Columba's as a "strikingly modern church" with a unique style.
The Story of St Columba's
Building the Church
In the late 1950s, a priest named Canon Francis Murphy had an idea. He was from St Werburgh's Church in Chester. Canon Murphy wanted to build a new church for the Catholic people living in Newton. He started collecting money for this project.
On September 6, 1964, the first stone for the church was laid. This is called the foundation stone. The church was designed by Francis Prichard (1919 – 2008). He was an architect who specialized in church buildings. He was also the Mayor of Crosby. The very first Mass (a special church service) was held in the new church on December 19, 1965. The church was officially opened on February 19, 1966. William Grasar, who was the Roman Catholic Bishop of Shrewsbury, opened it.
The Parish Hall
In 1978, a hall for the church community was also opened. Bishop Glaser opened this hall too. It was built with help from the Manpower Services Commission. In 2012, the hall hosted a big meeting for the British Heart Foundation.
See also
