Sts Simon and Jude Catholic Church, Streatham Hill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Saints Simon and Jude |
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|---|---|
| Location | 5 Hillside, Streatham Hill, London |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Archdiocese of Southwark |
Saints Simon and Jude is a Roman Catholic church located in Streatham Hill, London. It serves the local community and is a place for worship and gathering.
Contents
The Church's Story
How Saints Simon and Jude Began
The Catholic community in Streatham Hill started in 1904. A kind woman named Frances Elizabeth Ellis from Clapham Park helped make it happen. She gave money to Bishop Peter Amigo to build 12 churches. These churches were built to honor the 12 apostles. Miss Ellis and her sister bought the land for the church. A special Mass is held every month for everyone who has ever worshipped in this church.
Building the Church
The church was designed by an architect named Clement Jackson. It first opened in 1905. Back then, it was known as the Tulse Hill Mission. Father Rory Fletcher became the first priest. He had been a surgeon before becoming a priest!
Challenges with the Land
The church was built on a spot that used to be a cattle pond. A stream still flows underneath the building. This stream caused problems almost right away. The ground started to sink a little, which is called subsidence. This problem has continued over the years. You can even see old plans for parts of the church that were never built because of these ground issues.
Fixing and Decorating the Church
By 1985, the whole church building was having serious problems with the ground sinking. You could even see daylight through cracks in the walls! It was very important to fix these issues quickly. The church needed a lot of work to make its foundations stronger.
At the same time, people decided to decorate the inside of the church.
- The area where the altar is, called the sanctuary, was raised up by one meter.
- A new altar was put in, made of Ancaster stone.
- A special oak screen and fabric hangings were placed behind the altar.
- Cheshire sandstone was used for the pillar holding the Tabernacle and the base of the pulpit.
- A large Cross and two angels, which were carved by hand and came from Poland, were covered in gold.
Music and Stained Glass
A new electric organ was installed next to the sanctuary. This organ is very clever! It has a computer that can record and play back what the organist plays. This means the organ can play by itself when the organist is not there. This is very helpful when there are many Masses on the same day.
The church also started adding beautiful stained glass windows. An artist named Andrew Taylor created them in a medieval style. The newest window is in the center of the front of the church. It shows the image of the Divine Mercy. This window is lit up from inside the church in the evening. This way, people in the local area can see its beauty. Mrs. Susan Ashworth designed and made this window. It was put in place in 2004 to celebrate the church's 100th birthday.
