St Mary's Church, Preston Park Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids St Mary's Church

50°50′41″N 0°08′45″W / 50.8447°N 0.1458°W / 50.8447; -0.1458
OS grid reference	TQ3062706664
Location	Preston Village, East Sussex
Country	England
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Website	https://www.brightonstmary.com/
History
Status	Active
Dedication	Blessed Virgin Mary
Architecture
Functional status	Parish church
Heritage designation	Grade II listed
Designated	4 June 2015
Architect(s)	Percy Aiden Lamb
Style	Gothic Revival
Groundbreaking	9 August 1910
Completed	7 April 1912
Administration
Deanery	Brighton and Hove
Diocese	Arundel and Brighton
Province	Southwark

St Mary's Church is a Roman Catholic church in the Preston Village area of Brighton and Hove, England. It was built between 1910 and 1912. The church has a special style called Gothic Revival, with touches of the Arts and Crafts style. You can find it on Surrenden Road, right across from Preston Park. A talented architect named Percy Aiden Lamb designed it. Today, it's a Grade II listed building, which means it's an important historical place.

History of St Mary's Church
Church Services
Inside the Church
See also

History of St Mary's Church

How the Church Started

In 1903, a group of nuns called the Sisters of Charity moved to Brighton. They came from France to escape new laws that separated the church from the government. At first, they worked with St Joseph's Church in Brighton.

In 1904, the Bishop of Southwark, Peter Amigo, asked the sisters to open a school. Their convent chapel also became a place for local Catholics to worship. As more people came, a priest named Fr Frederick Hopper decided a new church was needed.

Building the Church

The land for St Mary's Church was bought in 1907 from the Preston Manor estate. Catherine and Denis Broderick gave money to help build the church. The first stone was laid on August 9, 1910.

Construction finished in 1912, and the first Mass was held on April 7, 1912. There was a small delay because the Brodericks wanted the main altar area built first. Fr Hopper wanted to build a tower. In the end, a tower was built, but some parts of the east side of the church were left unfinished.

The architect, Percy Aidan Lamb, started his own firm in London in 1907. He had learned from Edward Goldie and worked on Westminster Cathedral for many years. He designed St Mary's Church in the Gothic Revival style. He also designed the church's font, which is made of onyx. It was made by J. Whitehead & Son, using columns originally meant for Westminster Cathedral.

Changes Over Time

In 1918, the old high altar from the former Xaverian College in Brighton was moved to St Mary's. The pews, where people sit, were made by the church members themselves. They were inspired by pews in a church in Harbledown, Kent.

In the 1950s, the inside of the church was updated. The floor was replaced, and a decorative screen behind the altar was removed. In 1978, a house for the priests, called the presbytery, was built next to the church. The main altar area was also changed to a polygon shape. Both were designed by Patrick Foley. In 1979, a beautiful stained glass window was added to the east side of the church. It was designed by Cox & Barnard.

In 2004, plans began for a new parish center. It was funded by Cyril Cassidy and led by Canon Oliver Heaney. The Cassidy Centre opened in 2007. It is attached to the church and was designed by Stephen Wright. That same year, another stained glass window was added behind the font. It was designed by Caroline Benyon. In 2011, the convent that helped start St Mary's Church closed down.

Church Services

The church holds three Sunday Masses. One is on Saturday evening at 6:00 pm. On Sunday, there are Masses at 10:00 am and 12 midday. Weekday Masses are held at 10:00 am on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.