St Joseph's Church, Brighton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Joseph's Church
The church from the southwest
50°49′55″N 0°07′40″W / 50.8320°N 0.1279°W / 50.8320; -0.1279
Location	Wellington Road/Elm Grove, Brighton, Brighton and Hove BN2 3AA
Country	England
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Website	www.stjosephsbrighton.org.uk/
History
Status	Parish church
Founded	1866
Dedication	Saint Joseph
Dedicated	8 May 1979
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade II* listed
Designated	19 July 1985
Architect(s)	William Kedo Broder, J.S. Hansom, F.A. Walters
Style	Early English Gothic Revival
Groundbreaking	1866
Completed	1906
Administration
Parish	Brighton, St Joseph with St Francis
Deanery	Brighton and Hove
Diocese	Arundel and Brighton

St Joseph's Church is a Roman Catholic church in the Elm Grove area of Brighton, England. It is one of many Roman Catholic churches in the city of Brighton and Hove. The church was built in several stages, starting in 1879. Because of money owed, its official dedication did not happen until 1979. English Heritage has given it a special Grade II* listing because of its important architecture.

Building the Church: A Long Journey

Elm Grove road was created in the 1850s. It connected Lewes Road (which led to the center of Brighton) with Brighton Racecourse. Many houses were built quickly in this area. By 1900, the area was very busy with people.

A Roman Catholic place of worship has been at the west end of Elm Grove since the late 1860s. A small, temporary chapel was finished in 1869. This chapel stood where St Joseph's Church is now.

Early Plans and Challenges

A local person named Matthew Haddock passed away in the 1870s. In his will, he wished for a permanent church to replace the small chapel. His wife then gave £10,000 to help pay for it.

Architect William Kedo Broder designed a tall stone building. The first part of the church, including the sanctuary and part of the nave, opened in May 1879. In 1880, the sanctuary was made larger, and the apse (a rounded end part) was built. Sadly, William Kedo Broder died in January 1881 before he could finish his designs.

New Architects and More Building

J.S. Hansom, from a family famous for designing Roman Catholic churches, took over the project. His plans were not as grand as Broder's. By 1883, he finished the east end of the church. This part had one main apse with two smaller ones on each side.

The next step, completed in 1885, added a side chapel and a south transept (a part that sticks out from the main body of the church). This transept was smaller than Hansom had planned.

In 1900, another architect, Frederick Walters, was hired. He designed the west front of the church to match the existing building. His plans included a tower, but it was never built. This work was finished in March 1901.

The final major building work happened in 1906. This included adding a north transept and side chapel. The parts on the south side were also made larger. The church reopened for services on May 6, 1906.

Recent Changes and Dedication

Only small changes have been made since 1906. In the 1970s, one of the side chapels was changed to look like the Grotto at Lourdes in France. The sanctuary itself was also updated.

Later in the 1970s, the church finally had its official dedication. This happened after a long-standing problem with a debt was solved. The dedication took place on May 8, 1979, exactly 100 years after building work first began.

Church Design and Features

The outside of St Joseph's Church is made from two types of stone. It uses Kentish Ragstone (a kind of limestone) with details made from Bath Stone. The east end has three five-sided apses. The two outer ones form side chapels. All three apses have windows with trefoil designs, which look like three-leaf clovers.

The main entrance is at the west end. It has a porch with a gabled roof (a roof that forms a triangle). Inside, the chancel (the area around the altar) has seven bays. It is separated from the nave (the main part where people sit) by a detailed chancel arch. The nave has low, narrow aisles on both the south and north sides. The church is very tall, and its roof is vaulted, meaning it has an arched ceiling. The columns supporting the roof are made of light-colored brick and stone.

St Joseph's Church Today

St Francis of Assisi's Church, Moulsecoomb is managed by St Joseph's.

St Joseph's Church was given a Grade II* listing by English Heritage on July 19, 1985. This special status is given to buildings that are "particularly important" and have "more than special interest." In February 2001, it was one of 70 Grade II*-listed buildings in the city of Brighton and Hove.

St Joseph's Church is one of several Roman Catholic churches in Brighton and Hove. It is also in charge of managing St Francis of Assisi's church. This church is located in the Moulsecoomb area of northeast Brighton. St Francis of Assisi's was originally an Anglican church but became a Roman Catholic church in 1953.

See also

• Grade II* listed buildings in Brighton and Hove
• List of places of worship in Brighton and Hove