St Mary of the Angels, Worthing facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Mary of the Angels, Worthing |
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The church from the northeast
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| 50°48′48″N 0°22′38″W / 50.8132°N 0.3773°W | |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Dedication | Saint Mary |
| Consecrated | 1864 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | 21 May 1976 |
| Architect(s) | Henry Clutton Frederick Walters |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | French Gothic Revival |
| Completed | 1864 |
| Specifications | |
| Spire height | 76 feet (23 m) |
| Administration | |
| Deanery | Worthing |
| Diocese | Arundel & Brighton |
| Province | Southwark |
The Church of St Mary of the Angels is a special building in Worthing, West Sussex, England. It's a Grade II listed building, which means it's an important historical place. This church is the oldest of the four Roman Catholic churches in Worthing. It's still an active Roman Catholic church today, serving its local community. It belongs to the diocese of Arundel & Brighton.
History of the Church
The Church of St Mary of the Angels was officially opened in 1864. This important event was led by Thomas Grant. He was the Roman Catholic bishop of Southwark. Bishop Grant was the first local Roman Catholic bishop in the area since the time of the Reformation.
The land for the church was bought by Thomas Gaisford. He owned a large house called Offington Hall in Broadwater. Before the church was built, Mr. Gaisford had a chapel at Offington Hall. He allowed the public to use this chapel starting in 1859. Mr. Gaisford's wife, Lady Emily St Lawrence, was Catholic. Her father was Thomas St Lawrence, 3rd Earl of Howth. The Church of St Mary of the Angels was the very first place for Catholic worship in Worthing.
The church was built next to the Our Lady of Sion convent. The convent is run by the Sisters of Sion. These sisters also started the nearby independent school, Our Lady of Sion School. You can find the church at the corner of Richmond Road and Crescent Road. It's also very close to the famous triumphal arch of Park Crescent.
Church Architecture
The church was first designed by Henry Clutton. He used a style called French Gothic Revival. The outside of the church is made of red brick and Portland stone. Later, between 1897 and 1907, Frederick Walters extended the church.
He added a baptistery, which is a place for baptisms. He also made the porch and sacristy (a room where priests prepare) larger. The church has a bell tower that is 76-foot-tall (23 m). This tower also has a small spire at the top.
