St Laurence's Church, Cambridge facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Laurence's
St Laurence's Roman Catholic Church
52°13′05″N 0°07′46″E / 52.218145°N 0.129572°E / 52.218145; 0.129572
Location	91 Milton Road, Cambridge, CB4 1XB
Country	United Kingdom
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Architecture
Years built	1958
Administration
Diocese	East Anglia

The Church of St Laurence is a Roman Catholic church located in Cambridge, England. It is named after Saint Laurence of Rome. This church is part of the Diocese of East Anglia. It is one of three Catholic churches that serve the city of Cambridge.

A Look at St Laurence's Church

St Laurence's is a modern church. It was built using brick. The inside has an open design. This means everyone can easily see the altar area.

The church has mostly stayed the same since it opened. Some changes were made to the altar area. The porch was updated around the year 2000. A glass roof was added to make it brighter. Later, a balcony was built at the back. This helped to create more space for the growing number of people who attend church.

The inside of the church, showing the altar and other areas.

The Story of St Laurence's Church

The first permanent Catholic church in Cambridge was Our Lady and the English Martyrs. It opened in 1890. As more Catholic people moved to Cambridge, there was a need for another church.

In 1923, a Carmelite convent opened. This gave people on the north side of town a new place to worship. The Carmelite sisters later moved to a quieter place in 1937. After they left, people realized a new parish was needed. Soon, money was donated to help build a new church.

For a while, church services were held in homes. Then, a small church made of corrugated iron was built. This type of building is sometimes called a "tin tabernacle." In 1947, this became the new Parish of St Laurence's.

In 1951, a new priest named Rev. Patrick Oates arrived. He helped speed up efforts to raise money. People wanted to build a permanent church. On March 8, 1958, the foundation stone was laid. The new church was officially blessed and opened on August 24, 1958.

The old corrugated iron church building had an interesting past. It was once part of a hospital during the First World War. After the war, it was moved. In 1939, it became St Laurence's Church. After the new church opened in 1958, the "tin tabernacle" was moved again. It is now the Church of St Vincent de Paul in Fen Ditton.

Who Has Led the Church?

Many priests have served the Parish of St Laurence's since it began. They help lead services and guide the community. Here are some of the priests who have been in charge: