St Aldhelm's Roman Catholic Church, Malmesbury
St Aldhelm's Roman Catholic Church in Malmesbury, Wiltshire, England is a Roman Catholic Church built in 1875. The church is dedicated to St Aldhelm who lived in Malmesbury and was the abbot at nearby Malmesbury Abbey. The attached presbytery is a Grade II listed building.[3]
| St Aldhelm's Roman Catholic Church | |
|---|---|
St Aldhelm's Church from Cross Hayes | |
St Aldhelm's Roman Catholic Church St Aldhelm's Roman Catholic Church | |
| 51°34′59″N 2°05′46″W / 51.583°N 2.096°W | |
| OS grid reference | ST 93413 87131 |
| Location | Malmesbury, Wiltshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Catholic Church |
| Website | www |
| History | |
| Founded | 1875 |
| Founder(s) |
|
| Dedication | St Aldhelm |
| Administration | |
| Episcopal conference | Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales |
| Province | Ecclesiastical province of Birmingham |
| Metropolis | Archdiocese of Birmingham |
| Diocese | Diocese of Clifton |
| Deanery | St Aldhelm[1] |
| Parish | Malmesbury |
| Clergy | |
| Dean | Fr Michael McAndrew |
| Priest(s) | Fr Tomas Kulandaisamy MSFS[2] |
| Deacon(s) | Steve Boughton[2] |
| St Aldhelm's Presbytery | |
|---|---|
Listed Building – Grade II | |
| Official name | St Aldhelm's Presbytery[3] |
| Designated | 30 June 1976 |
| Reference no. | 1269513 |
Buildings edit
St Aldhelm's Roman Catholic Church is built in uncoursed stone with ashlar dressings, in 14th-century gothic style. It is set back from Cross Hayes, the town's former marketplace (now a car park),[4] to which it presents its west façade where a large two-light trefoil-headed window is flanked by two plain lancets.[5]
Immediately south of the church is the presbytery. The Grade II listed building incorporates a single-storey 19th-century former stable to Cross Hayes House, built in squared limestone, with a later rear extension in limestone rubble.[3]
History edit
The church was founded in 1875 by French priest Francois Larive MSFS, who was the first Missionary of St Francis de Sales to work in England.[6] The idea of founding a church in Malmesbury was given to him by Captain Charles Goddard Dewell of the 91st Argyllshire Regiment of Foot, who was born and raised in Malmesbury. The two met in 1858 while Captain Dewell was posted to the village of Kamptee in India.[7] Dewell had recently been baptised into the Roman Catholic Church after being converted to Catholicism following falling ill while serving in Italy.[8] He wanted to start a church in his home town, so after much discussion with Father Larive, the two decided to set up a church in Malmesbury.
In 1861, Father Larive and Dewell came to Malmesbury, and they decided on a site for the church: Cross Hayes House, which was owned by Dewell.[7] There were delays with the transfer of the lease of the house, so it did not become available until 1867. It was in that year that Captain Dewell became a lay brother in the Society of Jesus[7] and opened a school, despite fierce local opposition, including from the local member of parliament. A temporary church was set up on newly purchased adjoining land in 1869, and used until the present church was opened on 1 July 1875.[5] Father Larive dedicated the church to St Aldhelm, who was the patron saint of the town and was the founder and first abbot at the nearby Malmesbury Abbey from 675 to 705.[9]
The site of the old church became St. Joseph's Primary School, run by and named after the Sisters of St Joseph of Annecy with whom Father Larive had previously worked. The school remained there until 1933 when it moved to its current site on Holloway Hill.[10]
References edit
- ^ "Parishes". Clifton Diocese. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
- ^ a b "Saint Aldhelms Malmesbury". www.saintaldhelms.com.
- ^ a b c Historic England. "St Aldhems Presbytery (1269513)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
- ^ "Malmesbury". Wiltshire Council. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
- ^ a b "Malmesbury - St Aldhelm". Taking Stock. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
- ^ "English Province". Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales, UK. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
- ^ a b c "Captain Charles Goddard Dewell". btsarnia. 1 November 2017. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
- ^ . Wiltshire Community History. Wiltshire Council. Archived from the original on 8 July 2020 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ "St Aldhelm". Athelstan Museum. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
- ^ "St Joseph's Catholic Primary School". Retrieved 9 July 2020.