St Francis's Church, Salisbury facts for kids
St Francis Church in Salisbury is a special kind of Church of England parish church located in the northern part of Salisbury, England. It's known for being an evangelical and charismatic church. This means it focuses a lot on the Bible and believes in the active presence of the Holy Spirit in people's lives. The church was officially opened and dedicated in 1940.
Contents
The Church's Story
How the Church Started
The story of St Francis Church began in 1930. People in the new homes north of Salisbury needed a place to worship. So, they started using an old wooden hut that used to be part of the Army! By 1932, even though the area was still part of the Stratford-sub-Castle church area, a special priest called a curate was assigned to help the community.
In 1937, this area became its own church district, taking parts from the parishes of Stratford-sub-Castle and St Mark. A vicar, who is the main priest for a church, was then appointed.
Building the Church
A good spot was found for a permanent church building on Castle Road, which is also the A345. The first stone for the new church was laid in January 1939. The church building was then officially opened and dedicated in 1940.
The church building has a unique style from the 20th century. It has a wide main area called a nave with side passages, known as aisles, and rooms for meetings. Instead of a traditional chancel (the area near the altar), it has a rounded area called an apse behind the sanctuary (the sacred part around the altar), which includes a Lady Chapel. The tall windows in the nave have interesting shapes at the top.
On the south side of the church, there's a tower that stands about 70 feet (21 meters) tall. The church was designed by an architect named Robert Potter. It's built with concrete and covered with bricks, and the doors and windows have artificial stone around them. The roofs are made of strong concrete covered with asphalt.
Special Recognition and Changes
In 1990, the church building was given a special status as a Grade II listed building. This means it's an important historical building that needs to be protected. The church had a big update and repair project in 2006. Later, in 2017 and 2018, a new single-story extension with a flat roof was added on the south side, creating a new entrance.
What Experts Say About the Design
Experts have also commented on the church's design. Nikolaus Pevsner, a famous architectural historian, wrote that the church's details are similar to the work of a Swedish architect named Ragnar Östberg. Pevsner also found the white inside of the church "quite impressive." Another expert, Julian Orbach, compared the red brick of St Francis Church to the power stations designed by Giles Gilbert Scott, a well-known architect.
Church Bells and Records
When the church was first built, it didn't have any bells. Some records suggest that by 1960, bells from St Giles' church in the village of Imber were brought to St Francis. However, other information says that four of those bells were sold for scrap, and one went to Edington after they were removed from Imber in the 1950s.
Important church records, like those for christenings (from 1930) and marriages (from 1940), are kept safe at the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre.
Activities and Community
St Francis Church is connected to groups like the Evangelical Alliance and the New Wine organisation, which are both evangelical. The church plans its services to be welcoming for families and young people. In 2013, the separate church hall was changed into a community center. It now also hosts a pre-school, which is a great place for younger children to learn and play.
