St Joseph's Church, Dorking facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Joseph's Church |
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| OS grid reference | TQ 16266 48702 |
| Location | Dorking, Surrey |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | SJCC.org.uk |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Founded | 1872 |
| Dedication | Saint Joseph |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Parish church |
| Completed | 1895 |
| Administration | |
| Deanery | Epsom |
| Diocese | Arundel and Brighton |
| Province | Southwark |
St. Joseph's Church is a Roman Catholic church building located in Dorking, Surrey, England. It was started in 1872 with help from the Duke of Norfolk. This church is the only Catholic parish church in Dorking. A parish church serves the local community and is part of a larger area called a diocese. St. Joseph's is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Arundel and Brighton.
Contents
The Story of St. Joseph's Church
How the Church Began
For a long time, the Dukes of Norfolk owned a lot of land around Dorking. They were a Catholic family. They had their own special priests, called chaplains, who also helped other local Catholics in the 1700s and 1800s.
The Duke of Norfolk, Henry Fitzalan-Howard, owned the land where St. Joseph's Church stands today. He and his wife helped pay for the first church building. It was built to serve the Catholic people living nearby. In 1871 or 1872, a simple, temporary church was put up on Coldharbour Lane. Soon after, Catholic schools were also started.
Building the Church We See Today
In 1895, the church was rebuilt. A famous architect named Frederick Walters designed the new building. It was built right where the old church stood. The Duke of Norfolk gave the land to the new church community. He also gave money to help pay for the building.
The church was built in memory of Minna Fitzalan-Howard, a member of the Duke's family. It was designed in the Gothic Revival style, which looks like old medieval churches. The very first Mass (a special church service) in the new building was held on June 26, 1895.
A statue of Saint Joseph stands in the garden next to the church.
St. Joseph's Community
The Church and School
St. Joseph's Church has a strong connection with the nearby St. Joseph's Catholic Primary School. This school is the only Catholic school in Dorking. It was founded in 1873, around the same time as the church, by the Duchess of Norfolk.
From 1887 until 1970, a group of nuns from the Servite Order helped run the school. In 1970, the school moved to its current location on Norfolk Road.
Church Services Today
Since January 1, 2022, St. Joseph's Church has two main Masses each week. One is on Saturday evening at 6:00 PM. The other is on Sunday morning at 10:00 AM. The times might change for special holidays like Easter and Christmas.
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