St Edmund's Church, Southampton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Edmund's Church
Front entrance
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OS grid reference	SU4205613006
Location	Southampton
Country	United Kingdom
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Website	southamptoncitycentrecatholics.org
History
Status	Active
Founded	1884 (1884)
Dedication	Edmund of Abingdon
Architecture
Functional status	Parish church
Heritage designation	Grade II listed
Designated	30 March 1999
Architect(s)	J. William Lunn
Style	Gothic revival
Groundbreaking	21 June 1888
Completed	20 November 1889
Administration
Parish	St Joseph and St Edmund
Deanery	Southampton
Diocese	Portsmouth
Province	Southwark

St Edmund's Church is a Roman Catholic church in Southampton, Hampshire. It is located on the corner of The Avenue and Rockstone Place. The church was built in 1889. It is a Grade II listed building, which means it is a special historic building.

History of St Edmund's

Early Catholic Churches

After the English Reformation, the first Roman Catholic church in Southampton was St Joseph's Church. It was designed by a famous architect named Augustus Pugin. By 1867, the priest at St Joseph's saw that more Catholics were living in Southampton. A new church was needed to serve everyone.

In 1884, a temporary church was built. It was made of iron and named St Edmund's Church. This church was named after Saint Edmund of Abingdon. He is one of the special protectors of the Diocese of Portsmouth.

Building the Permanent Church

Work began on a bigger, permanent St Edmund's Church on June 21, 1888. The architect was J. William Lunn. He also designed several other churches, including Our Lady of the Annunciation Church, King's Lynn and Corpus Christi Church in Boscombe.

The new church officially opened on November 20, 1889. This date was special because it was the birthday of Saint Edmund of Abingdon. Important people like the Bishop of Portsmouth, John Vertue, attended the opening.

Changes and Repairs

Over the years, St Edmund's Church has been updated. In 1918, the area around the altar, called the sanctuary, was redecorated. New stained-glass windows were added. These beautiful windows were made by a company called Lavers, Barraud and Westlake.

Between 1967 and 1969, more changes were made. A small spire on the church roof was removed. The entrance area inside the church was made larger. A new organ was also installed.

In 1988, a fire caused serious damage to the building. But the church was quickly repaired. By 1989, the restoration was finished, and the church reopened its doors.

Next to the church, on the north side, is a small building called St Edmund's Lodge. The priest's house, known as the Presbytery, is in one of two large houses south of the church. The other house is used for Catholic students. There is also a church hall, built in the 1960s, to the south.

Church Community

Merging Parishes

In 2006, the local Catholic area, called the diocese, made some changes. St Edmund's parish joined with the nearby St Joseph's parish. They became one larger community called the Parish of St Joseph and St Edmund. People sometimes call it the Southampton City Centre Parish.

Mass Times and Schools

St Edmund's Church holds four Sunday Masses. These are at 9:00 am, 11:00 am, and 7:00 pm on Sunday. There is also a Mass in Polish at 7:00 pm on Saturday evening. The other church in the parish, St Joseph's, has two Sunday Masses. One is at 6:15 pm on Saturday evening, and the other is at 10:00 am on Sunday morning.

Close to St Edmund's Church is St Anne's Catholic School. This is a school for girls.

The Parish of St Joseph and St Edmund also has a special religious group called Verbum Dei. They help students at the University of Southampton and Southampton Solent University.

Interior

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  Stained-glass windows

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  Church organ

See also

• St Joseph's Church, Southampton
• St Anne's Catholic School, Southampton
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth