St Raphael's Church, Surbiton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Raphael |
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Surbiton's Roman Catholic church of Saint Raphael
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| Location | Portsmouth Road, Kingston, Surrey |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | St Raphael's Church |
| History | |
| Founded | 1846–1848 |
| Consecrated | 28 September 2012 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Kingston |
| Diocese | Archdiocese of Southwark |
St Raphael's Church is a Roman Catholic church located in Surbiton, a town in England. It is named after Saint Raphael. You can find it on Portsmouth Road. This church is quite special because it is a "Grade II* listed building," which means it is very important historically and architecturally.
Contents
The Church's Story
How it Started
The church was designed by a famous architect named Charles Parker. He used an Italianate style, which means it looks like buildings from Italy, with ideas from early Christian and Renaissance art.
A wealthy Catholic man named Alexander Raphael paid for the entire church. His family came from India. Alexander Raphael made history in 1829. He was the first Roman Catholic to become a Sheriff of London after a law called the Catholic Emancipation Act was passed. This law gave Catholics more rights.
Alexander Raphael built the church between 1846 and 1848. It was first meant to be a private chapel for his family. He named it after his patron saint, St Raphael. Sadly, he passed away in November 1850, not long after the church was finished.
Opening to the Public
After Alexander Raphael died, his nephew, Edward, inherited the church. Edward decided to open it to everyone. This made it the very first Roman Catholic church in the nearby town of Kingston.
Over time, the church and its land were passed down through different family members. Eventually, it belonged to Captain Hon. George Savile. His family, the Earls of Mexborough, lived in Yorkshire.
Special Memorials
Inside the church, there is a special plaque. It remembers Lady Anne Savile. She was the daughter of the fourth Earl. The plaque also remembers Colonel Minchin and Captain Hamilton. These three people were lost while trying to fly across the Atlantic Ocean from east to west. They were trying to set a new aviation record.
Other members of the Savile family are buried in a vault under the main altar of the church. They used to live nearby in Thames Ditton.
Modern Times
After the Second World War, the church was sold to the Diocese of Southwark. This is the local Catholic organization that manages churches in the area. St Raphael's Church is now officially on the list of important historical and architectural buildings. The church was officially consecrated, or made sacred, on September 28, 2012. This date is also St Raphael's Day.
Images for kids
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Inside the church
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A mosaic dedicated to George Savile
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The beautiful East window
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The plaque for Princess Anne of Loewenstein Wertheim
