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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| OS grid reference | TQ 17823 68365 |
| Location | Portsmouth Road, Kingston, Surrey |
| Country | England |
| 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 in Surbiton is a special Roman Catholic church. It's named after Saint Raphael and can be found on Portsmouth Road. This church is considered very important and beautiful, so it's listed as a Grade II* building. This means it's a building of special national interest.
Contents
History
Building the Church
A famous architect named Charles Parker designed St Raphael's Church. He used a style called "Italianate," which looks like old Italian buildings. It also has influences from early Christian and Renaissance art.
A wealthy man named Alexander Raphael paid for the entire church to be built. He was a Catholic Armenian whose family came from India. Alexander Raphael made history in 1829. He became the first Roman Catholic to be elected Sheriff of London. This happened after the Catholic Emancipation Act was passed. This act gave Catholics more rights in England.
Raphael built the church in 1846 as a private chapel for his family. He named it after Saint Raphael. The building was finished in 1848. Sadly, Alexander Raphael passed away in November 1850, not long after the church was completed.
Opening to the Public
After Alexander Raphael died, his nephew, Edward, inherited the church property. Edward decided to open the church to the public. It became the very first Roman Catholic church in Kingston.
Over time, the church and its land were passed down through different families. Eventually, they became the property of Captain Hon. George Savile. He was the brother of the Sixth Earl of Mexborough, whose family came from Yorkshire.
Important Memorials
Inside the church, there is a special memorial plaque. It remembers Lady Anne Savile, who was the daughter of the fourth Earl. The plaque also honors Colonel Minchin and Captain Hamilton. These three people were lost while trying to set an aviation record. They were attempting to be the first aviators to fly across the Atlantic Ocean from east to west.
Other members of the Savile family lived nearby in Thames Ditton. Many of them are buried in a special vault. This vault is located under the High Altar of the church.
A Public Church Today
After the Second World War, the church was sold to the Diocese of Southwark. A diocese is a large area managed by a bishop. Today, St Raphael's Church is officially on the Registered List of Buildings. This means it is recognized for its important history and beautiful architecture. The church was officially consecrated on September 28, 2012. Consecration is a special ceremony that dedicates a building to God.
Images for kids
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Interior of St Raphael's Church
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A mosaic dedicated to George Savile
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The beautiful East window of the church
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The memorial plaque for Princess Anne of Loewenstein Wertheim
