St Michael the Archangel Church, Chatham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Michael's Church |
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| St Michael the Archangel Church | |
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| 51°22′46″N 0°31′15″E / 51.379494°N 0.520917°E | |
| OS grid reference | TQ 75534 67509 |
| Location | Chatham, Kent |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Dedication | Michael (archangel) |
| Consecrated | 6 June 1951 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architect(s) | Henry Clutton |
| Style | Romanesque Revival |
| Years built | 1862 to 1863 |
| Administration | |
| Deanery | Chatham |
| Archdiocese | Southwark |
| Province | Southwark |
St Michael the Archangel Church is a Roman Catholic parish church in Chatham, Kent, England. It is a special place for the local Catholic community. The church was built a long time ago, between 1862 and 1863.
It was designed in a style called Romanesque Revival, which looks like old Roman buildings. A famous architect named Henry Clutton designed it. Later, in 1935, the church was made bigger with an extension. This part was designed by the firm of Frederick Walters and Son.
You can find St Michael's Church on Hill's Terrace, near Chatham railway station. When it was first built, it was the only Catholic church in the whole Medway area.
Contents
History of St Michael's Church
This section tells you about how St Michael's Church came to be and how it grew over the years.
Early Catholic Community
The first Catholic community in Medway started in 1795. It was in a place called Brompton. A French priest helped to set up this early mission.
At first, the church services were held in a chapel on Westcourt Street. Later, they moved to Manor Street. This mission stayed in these locations until St Michael's Church was built.
Building the Church
The main church building was constructed from 1862 to 1863. Henry Clutton was the architect who designed it. The building cost about £1,695, which was a lot of money back then!
Once it was built, St Michael's Church became the main center for Catholics in Medway. Priests from this church would travel to other nearby towns, like Gillingham, to lead church services for other Catholic groups.
In 1881, the church received a special gift: its pulpit. This was given by Catholic soldiers who were stationed nearby. The church has a main area called a nave with aisles on the sides. These aisles are a bit lower than the central part, making it a special type of church called a pseudobasilica. The outside walls are made of yellow brick.
Making the Church Bigger
In 1929, a new school was built for the church. This school was also designed by the firm of Frederick Walters and Son.
Then, in 1935, the church itself was made larger. The sanctuary, which is the area around the altar, was extended. They also added side chapels. These additions were also designed by Frederick Walters and Son.
A special ceremony took place on June 6, 1951, when the church was officially consecrated. This means it was formally dedicated for religious use.
Church Services and Parishes
Priests from St Michael's Church also help lead services at two other churches nearby. These are St Paulinus Church in Brompton and Sacred Heart Church in Luton.
St Paulinus Church has an interesting history. It was built in 1788 as a different type of church called a Wesleyan Chapel. In 1892, the local Catholic Church bought it. Sacred Heart Church was built later, in 1949. Its foundation stone was laid by the parish priest of St Michael's Church on June 26, 1949.
St Paulinus Church has one Sunday Mass (a main church service) at 9:00 AM. Sacred Heart Church also has one Sunday Mass, which is at 10:30 AM.
St Michael's Church itself has four Sunday Masses. There is one on Saturday evening at 6:30 PM. On Sunday, there are services at 9:30 AM, 11:00 AM, and 6:00 PM.
See also
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Southwark
