St Joseph's Church, Newbury

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St Joseph's Church
St Joseph's Church, Newbury.jpg
St Joseph's Church, Newbury
51°24′23″N1°19′06″W / 51.40647°N 1.31843°W / 51.40647; -1.31843
Location Newbury
CountryEngland
Denomination Roman Catholic
Website StJosephsNewbury.org.uk
History
Status Parish church
Founded1864
Dedication Saint Joseph
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Heritage designation Grade II listed
Designated15 May 2023
Architect(s) Wilfrid Clarence Mangan
Style Italianate
Groundbreaking 19 January 1926
Completed21 November 1928
Construction cost£20,000
Administration
Province Southwark
Diocese Portsmouth
Deanery St Edmund Campion [1]
Parish St Joseph

St Joseph's Church is a parish of the Roman Catholic Church in Newbury, Berkshire, England, part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth.

Contents

It is noted for its historic parish church, built from 1926 to 1928 in the Italianate style. It is located on the corner of London Road and Western Avenue north of the town centre. According to Historic England, which awarded it Grade II listed status in May 2023, [2] the church is a "major local landmark". [3]

History

Foundation

In 1852, from St Mary's Church in Woolhampton, a Fr Robert Hodgson started a mission in Newbury. In 1853, he bought a house in Newbury, 105 London Road and the surrounding land for construction of a new church. The house became both a presbytery and a small school. In 1864, a small church was built next to the house, at a cost of £800. [3] [4]

Construction

Statue atop the church Detail view of St Joseph's Church - geograph.org.uk - 604620.jpg
Statue atop the church

By the early twentieth century, the church was too small for the increasing local Catholic population. Funds were raised by the priest, Canon Francis Green. He went to Newbury Racecourse railway station when there were races at Newbury Racecourse to ask for money from people when they were leaving after the races. On 19 January 1926, the foundation stone was laid. The church was designed by Wilfred Clarence Mangan, an architect from Preston, who also designed the Church of Our Lady of Hal, Camden, English Martyrs Church, Reading, and the extension at St James's Church, Reading. [4] [5] The builders were the local firm Hoskings & Pond Ltd. On 21 November 1928, the church was opened. The total cost was around £20,000. The old church on London Road became the church hall. On 18 June 1978, a new altar in the church was consecrated by Anthony Emery, the Bishop of Portsmouth. [3]

Services

St. Joseph's offers daily Mass and two Sunday Masses, at 8:30am and 11:00am. [1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Parishes, Diocese of Portsmouth, retrieved 26 May 2022
  2. ↑ Historic England. "Church of St Joseph, 105 London Road, Newbury, RG14 1JP (Grade II) (1482846)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 Historic England, Newbury - St Joseph, Taking Stock, retrieved 2 May 2022
  4. 1 2 West Berkshire Council, St Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, Newbury, West Berkshire Historic Environment Record, retrieved 26 May 2022
  5. ↑ The Victorian Society, Wilfrid Clarence Mangan, A Biographical Dictionary of the Architects of Greater Manchester 1800 - 1940, retrieved 26 May 2022
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