St Gregory's Church, Cheltenham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Gregory's Church |
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| Church of St Gregory the Great | |
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 St Gregory's Church
Location in Gloucestershire
St Gregory's Church
Location in England
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| 51°54′05″N 2°04′49″W / 51.9015°N 2.0803°W | |
| OS grid reference | SO9457022558 |
| Location | Cheltenham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | StGregorys.org.uk |
| History | |
| Status | Parish Church |
| Founded | 1809 |
| Dedication | Pope Gregory I |
| Consecrated | 6 November 1877 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* listed |
| Architect(s) | Charles Hansom |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Years built | 1854 to May 1857 |
| Completed | 1876 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St Gregory the Great with St Thomas More |
| Deanery | St Kenelm |
| Diocese | Clifton |
| Province | Birmingham |
St Gregory the Great Church is a Roman Catholic church in Cheltenham, England. It was first started in 1809. The church you see today was built between 1854 and 1857. It's on the corner of St James' Square and Clarence Street. A famous architect named Charles Hansom designed it. It's also a special historic building, called a Grade II* listed building.
Contents
History of St Gregory's Church
How the Church Began
The very first church building here was a small chapel. It was built in 1809. Father Augustine Birdsall helped start it. He was a monk from Douai Abbey.
Building the Church
In 1854, monks from Douai Abbey were still helping the church. That's when work began on the new building. The church was designed by Charles Hansom. He was a well-known architect. He also designed Plymouth Cathedral. Charles Hansom created the church in a style called Gothic Revival. This style looks like old medieval churches.
The main part of the church, called the chancel, was finished in May 1857. The church then opened its doors. Work on the tall tower and spire began that same year. They were finally finished in 1876. The church was officially blessed and opened on 6 November 1877. This special event is called a consecration.
The beautiful stained glass windows were made by a company called Hardman & Co.. Inside the church, the altar and the decorative screen behind it, called a reredos, were made by Farmer & Brindley. Most of the detailed carvings were done by a local company. They were called Messrs R. L. Boulton & Sons of Cheltenham. This company also worked on Cheltenham Town Hall.
The Church Community
St Gregory's Church is part of a larger church community. This community is called the parish of St Gregory the Great with St Thomas More. It also serves the St Thomas More Catholic Centre. This centre is located on Princess Elizabeth Way in Cheltenham.
In 2011, the old St Thomas More Church was taken down. The church hall at the Catholic Centre was then made bigger. It now has a special room for priests, called a sacristy. It also has a small chapel. Community groups can use these new spaces too.
St Gregory's Church has several Sunday Masses. These are at 8:00 am, 9:30 am, 11:15 am, and 6:00 pm. The St Thomas More Catholic Centre has one Sunday Mass. It takes place on Saturday evenings at 5:00 pm.
The church building has been getting some important repairs. The roof and walls are being fixed. New lighting is also being put in inside the church. This work was planned to be finished by the end of November 2018. You can often find updates on the parish website.
See also
- Cheltenham Deanery
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Clifton
