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 | SO 94570 22558 |
| Location | Cheltenham |
| Country | England |
| 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, a town in Gloucestershire, England. A church is a building where Christians gather to worship. This one is a Parish church, which means it serves the Catholic community in its local area.
The church stands on the corner of St James' Square and Clarence Street. It was first started in 1809, but the beautiful building you see today was built between 1854 and 1857. It was designed by an architect named Charles Hansom. Because of its special history and architecture, it is a Grade II* listed building. This means it is considered a very important building in England and is protected by law.
Contents
The Story of St Gregory's Church
Early Beginnings
The story of St Gregory's begins in 1809. Before the grand church was built, there was a smaller chapel on the same spot. This first chapel was guided by its priest, Father Augustine Birdsall. He was a monk from a religious community called Douai Abbey.
Building a Grand Church
By 1854, the monks from Douai Abbey were still looking after the church. They decided it was time to build a bigger and better one. Building work began in the spring of that year.
The new church was designed by Charles Hansom. He was a well-known architect who also designed Plymouth Cathedral and St Osburg's Church in Coventry. His brother, Joseph Hansom, was famous for inventing the Hansom cab, a type of horse-drawn carriage.
Charles Hansom designed St Gregory's in the Gothic Revival style. This style was popular in the 1800s and was inspired by the amazing cathedrals built in the Middle Ages. It features pointed arches, tall spires, and large windows.
A Long Construction
The main part of the church, called the chancel, was finished in May 1857, and the church was opened for services. Work also started on the tall tower and spire, but these took much longer to complete.
The tower and spire were finally finished in 1876. The next year, on November 6, 1877, the church was officially consecrated. This is a special ceremony where a church is blessed and dedicated to God.
Amazing Details Inside
The inside of the church is just as impressive as the outside.
- The colorful stained glass windows were made by the famous company Hardman & Co.
- The main altar (the table used for services) and the decorative screen behind it, called a reredos, were made by Farmer & Brindley.
- Most of the detailed stone carvings were done by a local Cheltenham company, Messrs R. L. Boulton & Sons.
St Gregory's Today
St Gregory's is an active church and the heart of a busy parish. The parish is officially called "St Gregory the Great with St Thomas More." This is because it also includes the St Thomas More Catholic Centre, which is on Princess Elizabeth Way in Cheltenham.
The old St Thomas More Church building was taken down in 2011. In its place, the church hall was updated to include a small chapel, a room for preparing for services (a sacristy), and spaces for community groups to use.
If you want to attend a service, St Gregory's Church holds three Sunday Masses at 9:30 am, 11:15 am, and 5:00 pm. The St Thomas More Catholic Centre also has a Mass on Saturday evenings at 5:00 pm.
See also
- Cheltenham Deanery
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Clifton
