Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea, Llandudno

Introduction

The Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea in Llandudno was built circa 1891 to 1893 and designed by E Kirby. The church is distinguished by its Gothic style with yellow stone facing and red sandstone dressings.

History

The foundation stone of the new church was laid on 10 September 1891 by the Right Reverend Dr. Knight, Lord Bishop of Shrewsbury. The completion of the building was delayed by difficulties in securing foundations, requiring a thick bed of concrete. The church was opened on 17 August 1893, dedicated to Our Lady Star of the Sea. The church was not complete when opened: there was no sacristy, just a lean-to hut, and the presbytery was not built until a year or two later.

The church was used only during summer months when opened; in winter the congregation worshipped in the old chapel in Ty Gwyn Road. In 1922 electric light was installed in the body of the church. In 1923-24 the sanctuary ceiling and side aisles were panelled and the interior completely redecorated. In 1924-5 a new organ was built and an electric Kinetic blower installed.

In 1986 the church was completely redecorated, the baptismal font moved to the sanctuary area, and the old baptismal chapel turned into a quiet room. In 2002 Gowerdale was totally refurbished as a joint Parish and Diocesan Centre and renamed 'Stella Maris'.

Architecture and furnishings

The church has a chancel with polygonal apse, nave of five bays, lean-to aisles, polygonal baptistry at the south-west end of the southern side aisle, and a porch at the south-west end of the northern side aisle. The porch has a statue of Our Lady of the Sea in a canopied and crocketed niche in its upper front wall. Inside, the church has nave arches with circular columns, a timber roof to the nave, a ribbed chancel roof, and a reredos with statues and reliefs in canopied niches.

The church was built to accommodate 500 worshippers. The church was designed with a pitch pine roof and floor, the latter laid with encaustic tiles in the nave and aisles. The church was designed with a fine traceried window at the east end. The church was built with a main entrance from Deganwy Street.

The church was built with a harmonium used instead of an organ in its early days. The Lady Chapel was adorned with a new statue of The Madonna and Child, carved in Italy from a single block of wood. The foundation stone was a square marble slab with a cross cut deeply at each corner and tied round with blue ribbon. The statue of Our Lady over the Lloyd Street entrance porch was erected about this time through the generosity of a private donor. A new ambo and a new frontispiece in matching stone were installed, with symbolic incisions of a Dove on the font, an Eagle on the ambo, and a Pelican feeding its young on the frontispiece.

Parish life

Through the Ministry to the Sick, clergy visit the sick, housebound, and those in care homes twice a month to give them Communion. A Parish Council assists the parish priest in all matters relating to the pastoral life of the parish. A Finance Committee assists the parish priest in the administration of the goods of the parish, such as properties and finances. The parish runs a Baptism Preparation programme where parents meet with the parish priest for instructions.

The parish annually organises the RCIA programme for adults, beginning from October, with candidates receiving the sacraments during the Easter Vigil ceremonies. A team of volunteer cleaners keeps the church clean and tidy, following a rota. A Maintenance Committee, a team of volunteers, regularly checks the parish premises and properties to identify anything that needs attention. Volunteers keep the grounds of the church neat and tidy through gardening.

A team of Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion helps distribute Holy Communion during Mass, and some also take Communion to the sick and housebound. Trained and commissioned Lectors proclaim the Word of God at Mass on a rota basis. Altar Servers, both male and female, young and old, help at Sunday Masses on a rota basis. A Sacristan takes care of the sacristy and gets things ready for liturgical celebrations.

A catechesis ministry is staffed by volunteer catechists who have received adequate catechetical training. A mission outreach team is yet to be formed, with plans in place to form one. A Parish Shop has not taken off yet. A Children's Mass is not yet held.

Sacraments and pastoral care

The parish has a homeless ministry, with a good number of homeless people calling at the presbytery door seeking money and food. The parish has a Volunteers Party once a year to thank all the volunteers who render services to the parish. The parish has a Collectors group headed by Kathleen Stones that helps with the Offertory Collection. The parish has a Garden Party that is yet to start.