St Joseph's Church, Aldershot Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids St Joseph's Church
East side of church
51°14′54″N 0°46′08″W / 51.2484°N 0.7689°W / 51.2484; -0.7689
OS grid reference	SU 86018 50634
Location	Aldershot, Hampshire
Country	England
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Website	Aldershot-Catholics.org.uk
History
Status	Active
Founded	29 July 1869
Founder(s)	Fr Thomas Purcell
Dedication	Saint Joseph
Architecture
Functional status	Parish church
Heritage designation	Grade II listed
Designated	9 June 1982
Architect(s)	George Drysdale
Style	Romanesque revival
Groundbreaking	19 March 1912
Completed	30 January 1913
Administration
Parish	Aldershot
Deanery	North Hampshire
Diocese	Portsmouth
Province	Southwark

St Joseph's Church is a Roman Catholic parish church located in Aldershot, Hampshire. It was built in 1913. The church stands on Queens Road, high up on a ridge. From there, it looks over the town centre. It is situated between the Municipal Gardens and Princes Hall. This church is a Grade II listed building, which means it is an important historical building. A famous expert, Sir Nikolaus Pevsner, once called it "One of the most impressive churches of its date." He also noted its clever design on a tricky triangular plot of land.

History of St Joseph's Church
Church Services
Inside St Joseph's Church
See also

History of St Joseph's Church

How the Church Began

Side view of the church from Queens Road, with the Presbytery to the left

In 1869, a priest named Father Thomas Purcell was sent to Aldershot. His job was to serve the local Catholic community. He rented a building to use as both a chapel and a school. This first chapel opened on July 29, 1869. Before Father Purcell left, he bought the land where the church stands today for £400.

In 1871, a new priest, Father Louis Hall, arrived. He bought more land next to the church plot for St Joseph's Primary School. On May 24, 1883, a temporary church made of iron was opened. This iron church replaced the rented chapel as the main place of worship.

The building next to the church, called the presbytery, was built in 1874 for Father Hall. It is also a locally listed building. It is made of red brick with a natural slate roof.

Building the Church

Construction of the exterior of St Joseph's Church in 1913

Construction of the interior of St Joseph's Church in 1913

In 1902, Father Francis O'Farrell came to Aldershot. He started raising money to build a permanent church. After 10 years, enough money was collected. Building work began, and the foundation stone was laid on March 12, 1912. The church was designed by an architect named George Drysdale.

The old temporary iron church was taken apart. It was then moved and put back together on Belle Vue Road. It became St Mary's Church. St Joseph's Church officially opened on January 30, 1913.

George Drysdale, the architect, had to design a large church on a triangular piece of land. He also had to make sure it fit the budget. The church is built mostly from red brick and tile. Stone was used for the floor and doorways.

At the west end of the church, there is a narthex (an entrance area). There are also two altars there. One is in the Lady chapel and the other in the Chapel of Holy Souls. The church gets narrower as you move towards the main altar at the eastern end. The sanctuary (the area around the altar) is higher than the main part of the church. The altar is made of a greenish-grey marble.

The first Mass celebrated in St Joseph's on January 30, 1913

The beautiful paintings on the walls of the main church area were created by a local artist, Robert Senior. They show scenes like the resurrection and the Wedding at Cana. Since 2017, the church has added several relics, large statues, and old religious paintings from the 1700s.

Church Growth and Changes

In 1961, a nearby secondary school, All Hallows Catholic School, was built. People from St Joseph's Church helped fund it with their donations. That same year, a new Catholic church, St Saviour Church, opened in Aldershot. This was to help with the growing number of churchgoers. St Saviour Church was later sold in the 1980s.

From 1962 to 1963, a permanent building was constructed for St Mary's Church on Belle Vue Road. This replaced its old temporary iron structure. In 1974, St Mary's became its own parish church.

In 1973, St Joseph's Primary School, which was next to the church, was taken down. A new parish hall was built in its place. The school moved to another part of Aldershot. On June 22, 1982, St Joseph's Church was officially consecrated.

Church Services

St Joseph's Church holds one Sunday Mass at 10:30 AM. There is also Mass at 9:30 AM each morning from Monday to Thursday. St Joseph's Church shares a parish with St Mary's Church on Belle Vue Road. St Mary's Church has a Saturday evening Mass at 5:30 PM.