St Osburg's Church, Coventry facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Osburg's Church
Most Holy Sacrament and St Osburg Church
View of the back of the church
52°24′39″N 1°31′10″W / 52.4109°N 1.5195°W / 52.4109; -1.5195
OS grid reference	SP 32778 79317
Location	Coventry
Country	England
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Website	SsMaryandBenedict.org.uk
History
Status	Active
Founder(s)	Bishop William Ullathorne OSB
Dedication	Osburh of Coventry
Architecture
Functional status	Parish church
Heritage designation	Grade II listed
Designated	24 June 1974
Architect(s)	Charles Hansom
Style	Gothic Revival
Groundbreaking	1843
Completed	9 September 1845
Administration
Deanery	Coventry
Diocese	Birmingham
Province	Birmingham

St Osburg's Church, also known as the Church of the Most Holy Sacrament and St Osburg, is a Roman Catholic parish church in Coventry, West Midlands. It was built between 1843 and 1845. The famous architect Charles Hansom designed it. You can find it in the city centre, where Holyhead Road meets the Coventry Ring Road. Monks from Downside Abbey started this church. It is also a 'Grade II listed building,' which means it is an important historical building.

Building St Osburg's Church

In 1841, a monk named William Ullathorne came to Coventry. He was from Downside Abbey and had been working in Australia. When he arrived, there was a small chapel on the same spot. This chapel was dedicated to St Lawrence and St Mary.

William Ullathorne started planning a new, bigger church. He asked Charles Hansom, a well-known architect, to design it. Building work began in 1843. The church was finished two years later, in 1845. On September 9, 1845, the church was officially opened. This ceremony was led by Nicholas Wiseman, a very important church leader at the time.

A year later, in 1846, William Ullathorne became a top church leader for the Western District. His special ceremony was held right there in St Osburg's Church. A famous person named John Henry Newman also attended this event.

Surviving World War II

On November 14, 1940, parts of Coventry were heavily bombed during a war air raid. St Osburg's Church suffered a lot of damage. Its roof was destroyed, along with the chancel (the area around the altar). The east side walls, all the windows, and the church's furniture were also ruined.

The church remained partly in ruins until 1944. In that year, the damaged chancel was separated from the main part of the church, called the nave. This allowed church services to start again temporarily.

In the 1950s, all the beautiful stained glass windows were replaced. They were made by a company called Earley and Company. After all the repairs were finished, Cardinal Bernard Griffin officially re-opened the church.

The Church Community

Monks from Downside Abbey looked after the church community until 1926. Then, monks from Douai Abbey took over. In 1992, the church was handed over to the Archdiocese of Birmingham, which is the main Catholic group in the area.

In 2008, a group called the Apostles of Jesus were invited to help. They now serve St Osburg's Church and other nearby churches. Priests from the Apostles of Jesus also lead services at St Elizabeth's Church and Saints Mary and Benedict's Church in Coventry.

Saints Mary and Benedict's Church was also started by a group of Benedictine monks. Its first stone was laid on February 9, 1893. The church officially opened on November 21, 1893, with Cardinal Herbert Vaughan leading the ceremony.

St Elizabeth's Church was designed by Harrison & Cox. It opened in 1912 and was re-opened after repairs in 1962.

Today, there are two Sunday Masses held at St Osburg's Church. One is on Saturday at 5:30 PM, and the other is on Sunday at 11:30 AM. Saints Mary and Benedict's Church has Sunday Masses at 9:30 AM and 11:30 AM. St Elizabeth's Church has Sunday Masses at 9:00 AM and 11:15 AM.

Images for kids

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  St Mary and St Benedict Church, Coventry

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  St Elizabeth's Church, Coventry

See also

• Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Birmingham