St Mary Magdalen's Church, Brighton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary Magdalen's Church |
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The church from the northeast, with the parish hall in the distance
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| 50°49′32″N 0°08′59″W / 50.8256°N 0.1496°W | |
| Location | Upper North Street, Montpelier, Brighton and Hove BN1 3FH |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Founded | 1861 |
| Dedication | Mary Magdalene |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II listed |
| Designated | 10 June 1988 |
| Architect(s) | Gilbert Blount |
| Style | Early English/Decorated Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1861 |
| Completed | 16 August 1864 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Brighton, St Mary Magdalen |
| Deanery | Brighton and Hove |
| Diocese | Arundel and Brighton |
St Mary Magdalen's Church is a Roman Catholic church located in the Montpelier area of Brighton, England. It is one of several Roman Catholic churches in the city of Brighton and Hove. The church is named after Mary Magdalene, a close follower of Jesus.
The church was designed by Gilbert Blount, a famous church architect. He built it in a style that looks like 13th-century Gothic architecture. This style was chosen to serve the growing number of people living in Brighton and Hove. The church is considered important for its architecture and is a Grade II listed building. This means it is a special building protected by the government. Next to the church, there is also a house for the priest (called a presbytery) and a church hall, which are also listed buildings.
Contents
History of St Mary Magdalen's Church
Why Was the Church Built?
Before 1861, Brighton had only one Roman Catholic church, St John the Baptist's. It was built in 1835. As more people moved to West Brighton, there was a need for another church. A priest named Father George Oldham was in charge of planning this new church.
Who Designed the Church?
Gilbert Blount was chosen to design St Mary Magdalen's Church. He was an engineer before becoming a church architect, especially for Roman Catholic churches. He even worked with the famous engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel earlier in his career.
When Was the Church Built?
The first part of the church to be built was the sanctuary and its small chapels. These were finished in 1861. The main part of the church, called the nave, was added in 1862. It was made longer in 1864, which is also when the tall spire was built. The church officially opened on August 16, 1864.
For many years, no major changes were made. However, in 1962, the old organ was replaced. Two statues, made by Joseph Cribb, were placed above the entrance. These statues show Saint Joseph and Saint George. More work was done inside the church between 1973 and 1974.
Buildings Around the Church
St Mary Magdalen's Church is on Upper North Street, a street with many high-quality houses built from the 1830s. The church is on the south side of the street. To its east is the priest's house (presbytery), and to its west is the former primary school. The school was also named after St Mary Magdalen.
The school building was built around 1865. It is made of red brick with stone details. It has now been changed into a church hall. The priest's house was built later, around 1890. It also uses red brick and stone, with a slate roof. Both the church hall and the priest's house are also Grade II listed.
What Does the Church Look Like?
Architectural Style and Materials
St Mary Magdalen's Church is built in a style that mixes 13th-century Early English and Decorated Gothic designs. This was a favorite style for Gilbert Blount. The outside walls are made of red brick, laid in a pattern called "English bond." There are also decorative parts made of blue and black brick, and larger sections of stone.
Key Features of the Church
The church has a brick and stone tower that gets narrower as it goes up. A stone spire sits on top of the tower. The church's layout includes a chancel (the area around the altar), a long main hall called a nave with five sections, and aisles on the sides. There is also a vestry (a room for the priest) and the tower, which includes a porch and the main entrance door.
The church has tall, narrow windows called lancet windows. These windows have fancy stone patterns, known as tracery, on all sides and on the middle and upper parts of the tower. The stone decorations on the outside of the church have detailed carvings.
St Mary Magdalen's Church Today
Listed Building Status
St Mary Magdalen's Church was officially made a Grade II listed building by English Heritage on June 10, 1988. This means it is an important historical and architectural building that needs to be protected. There are many listed buildings in Brighton and Hove, and this church is one of them.
Recent Changes and Services
Between 2008 and 2010, some parts of the sanctuary were rebuilt. New decorative lighting was also added. These changes helped restore the church to look more like it did originally.
St Mary Magdalen's is one of eleven Roman Catholic churches in the Brighton and Hove area. There are five others in Brighton, three in Hove, and one each in Rottingdean and Woodingdean.
The church holds several Masses on Sundays. One of these Masses is in Polish, and another is the Traditional Latin Mass. There are also two Masses on Holy Days of Obligation. The Sacrament of Penance (confession) is offered after each Mass or by appointment.
Hugh Gerard McGrellis, known as Gerry, has been an altar server at the church for over 70 years. He received the Benemerenti medal from Pope Benedict XVI for his long service. He also used to be the head of the governors for St Mary Magdalen's School.
See also
- Grade II listed buildings in Brighton and Hove: S
- List of places of worship in Brighton and Hove
