St Monica's Church, Palmers Green facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Monica's Catholic Church |
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 St Monica's Catholic Church
Location in Greater London
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| 51°37′27″N 0°6′9″W / 51.62417°N 0.10250°W | |
| Location | Stonard Road, London N13 4DJ |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Consecrated | 4 May 1914 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Years built | 1913–1914 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Palmers Green |
| Deanery | Enfield |
| Archdiocese | Westminster |
| Province | Westminster |
St Monica's Catholic Church is a special place of worship in the Palmers Green area of north London. It is a parish of the Roman Catholic Church. You can find the church where Stonard Road meets Green Lanes in the London Borough of Enfield.
It is one of only two parishes in the Diocese of Westminster named after Saint Monica. The other one is St Monica's Priory in Hoxton.
The church started as a small mission in 1910. Later, it became a full parish. A house for the priest, called a presbytery, was built next to the church in 1931.
Today, the church has two priests, a parish sister, and a youth worker. They offer many activities, including community programs and social help, along with regular worship and care for the community.
Contents
The History of St Monica's Church
St Monica's Church began as a small mission in 1910. Father Patrick Gallagher became the new priest on June 27, 1912. He was a very important person in the church's early days.
Father Gallagher used to be a builder. This experience helped him greatly when it came to building the church. He worked hard and used his connections in the building world. Because of his efforts, the church was built in just two years after he arrived.
The church officially opened on Monday, May 4, 1914. A very important church leader, Francis Cardinal Bourne, was there. Nearly 600 people and 40 clergy members attended the opening. The church and the priest's house cost £6,600 to build, including the land.
In 1954, Father Gallagher built St Monica's Primary School. It was located on land in nearby Cannon Hill in Southgate. This was a big dream of his. He passed away on December 11, 1957, after finishing his work.
The church also started an amateur drama group called Saint Monica's Players (SMP) in 1958. This group still performs musicals in Enfield today. From 1935 to 1987, the church hall was home to a professional theater called the Intimate Theatre.
Exploring the Church Interior
In 1920, Father Gallagher visited a famous play called the Passion Play in Oberammergau, Germany. He was very impressed by the wood carving there. He then ordered several beautiful wooden pieces for St Monica's. These included the Sacred Heart altar, statues of St Monica and St Joseph, and confessional boxes.
The Sacred Heart Chapel
The Sacred Heart Chapel is in the southwest part of the church. It was a secret gift from an early church member. The walls are covered with colorful stone mosaics in a Byzantine style.
Two angels hold parts of a message from Jesus: 'Behold this Heart' and 'Which has so loved men'. The Sacred Heart statue is in the middle of the wooden altar. It is surrounded by detailed carvings.
The painted pictures next to the statue show important moments. On the left, St Peter receives keys from Jesus. On the right, Jesus shows his Sacred Heart to Sister Margret Mary. The stained glass window, made by Franz Mayer & Co of Munich, shows Jesus with children. It says: 'Suffer little children to come unto me'.
Special Statues in the Church
The statue of St Monica shows her with her son, St Augustine, as a baby in a boat. It stands in front of the modern Reconciliation Room. This room was added to the church in 1964.
The statue of St Joseph holds a lily, which means purity. It is next to the Sacred Heart Chapel. The statue of St Mary is in a special spot on the north wall. People often light candles there and look at the Book of Remembrance.
The Stations of the Cross
The fourteen Stations of the Cross are carved from oak wood. Father Gallagher asked for them to be made. We don't know exactly where or when they were made.
These carvings show the story of Jesus' crucifixion in a simple and powerful way. They are now placed directly on the church walls without frames.
The Church Organ
The church organ was first used at Christmas in 1924. A newspaper called The Tablet said it had "great power and beautiful tone." A special service was held to bless it in January 1925.
St Monica's was the second home for this organ, but its first location is a mystery. It was fixed up in the spring of 2014. The organ is in the organ loft, which is above the church entrance.
The Crucifix
A large wooden crucifix with a carved figure of Christ hangs on the south wall. Its origin is unknown. Over the years, it has been moved to different places in the church.
Every year on Remembrance Sunday, the church community turns to face it. They have a short service of remembrance and two minutes of silence.
The Sanctuary Window
The window above the altar, called the sanctuary window, was once plain glass. For some time, a curtain covered it, and a large wooden cross hung there.
In 1984, a new window was given by someone who wished to remain anonymous. It was painted by a Maltese artist named Carmel Cauchi. He said the window "shows Christ in the glory of His resurrection. Jesus is the light."
Church Lighting
New lights were put in the church in 2010. This was just in time for the celebration of the parish's 100th birthday. Bruce Kirk of Light Perceptions designed them, and they were built in Lancashire. Their design looks like the church's original lights from 1914.
