St George Church, Gloucester facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St George Church
Front of St George Church in February 2024
Location	Gloucester

St George Church is a special place of worship for Anglican Christians. You can find it on Grange Road in Tuffley, a part of Gloucestershire, England. People gather here for regular church services, which sometimes change with the seasons.

The Story of St George Church

How the Church Began

St George Church started in 1941. At first, it didn't have its own hall. In 1942, a wooden building called Whaddon Church Hall was moved to Grange Road to be used by the church.

In 1947, a temporary church building was put up. The next year, in 1948, this church became a special area called a conventional district. This meant it was a recognized church area.

Growing and Changing Over Time

The temporary church building got bigger in 1950. It was then officially named and dedicated to Saint George. A house for the church leader, called a vicarage, was built nearby in 1954.

A new brick church building was finished in 1956. This building was first meant to be a church hall. There were plans to connect it to an even bigger church with a covered walkway called a cloister.

However, the bigger church was never built. So, the new brick hall became the main church building. The older, temporary church then became the church hall.

Becoming a Parish and Community Hub

In 1967, the church's district officially became the Parish of St George. This made it a full church area with its own community.

Between 1970 and 1971, the old church hall was taken down. Many new rooms were added to the church. These included a new hall, meeting rooms, a kitchen, and toilets.

At this time, the church was also known as the St George's Centre. This was because it was used a lot by the local community. It was a place for many different activities.

In the late 1970s, two more houses for church leaders were built. These were located to the west of the main church building.

Modern Updates to the Church

In 1981, the church was changed and made larger. Most of the west wall was removed. In its place, a special area for worship called a sanctuary and a small chapel were built.

Inside, some walls were taken down to create a large, open space. The new parts of the church were officially opened by the Bishop of Gloucester.

The Vicarage House

The vicarage is a modern house with four bedrooms. It stands on its own on Grange Road, just north-east of the church. This is where the church's vicar lives.

The Parish of St George Community

The Parish of St George is home to about 9,600 people. It includes parts of areas like Podsmead and Lower Tuffley. The main A38 runs right through the middle of the parish.

This area is part of the communities in England that face more challenges. It is also one of the areas with more challenges within the Diocese of Gloucester.