St Theodore's Roman Catholic Church, Hampton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Theodore's Roman Catholic Church, Hampton |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| 51°24′57″N 0°22′8″W / 51.41583°N 0.36889°W | |
| Location | 110 Station Rd, Hampton TW12 2AS |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Founded | 1927 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Austin Winkley |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Hampton-on-Thames |
| Diocese | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Westminster |
| Division | Upper Thames Deanery |
St Theodore's Roman Catholic Church in Hampton is a special place of worship. It is a Roman Catholic church located on Station Road in Hampton. Hampton is a town within the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames.
Contents
History of St Theodore's Church
Early Beginnings: A Chapel in a Home
The story of St Theodore's Church began in 1897. A man named Michael Farmer built a house in Avenue Road. This house had a special room that was used as a small Catholic chapel.
Michael Farmer's son, Edmund, became a priest in 1894. He was given permission to hold church services, called Mass, in this room. Everyone was welcome to attend these services. As more Catholic people moved to Hampton, the chapel needed more space. So, in 1918, the workshop area was made bigger to fit everyone.
A New Location: Walnut Tree Cottage
In 1923, the church bought a new property. It was called Walnut Tree Cottage and was located on Station Road. Father Harold Burton was the first priest to live there. He set up a chapel in the cottage for daily Mass. However, the main Sunday Mass continued to be held in Avenue Road.
Building the First Church
By 1927, a new building was put up on the Station Road site. It was made of wood and asbestos and sat on concrete foundations. This building was meant to be temporary. However, it ended up serving as the main church for almost 60 years!
The Modern Church Building
A brand new church building was finished in November 1986. This church was dedicated to Saint Theodore of Canterbury. It was officially opened and blessed on March 22, 1987. The Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Basil Hume, led the special ceremony.
Architecture and Art
Who Designed the Church?
The beautiful design of the current church was created by an architect named Austin Winkley.
Artistic Touches Inside
The church features stunning stained glass windows. These were made by an artist called Patrick Reyntiens. You can also see lovely wood sculptures inside the church. These were created by David John.
Church Services
St Theodore's Church holds several services each week. Mass is held on Saturday evenings and Sunday mornings. There is also a Sunday evening Mass, except during August. Weekday masses are held on Monday, Thursday, and Friday mornings. There is also a Mass on Wednesday evenings.
