Our Lady, Help of Christians

Introduction

The church is 138 feet long and 36 feet wide between the piers, spanned by a steel roof with Gothic-design principals, boarded and panelled on the underside.

Architecture and furnishings

A gallery is placed between the two towers, approached by a stone staircase in the turret on the right side of the building. The pulpit is of oak, and the font, underneath the gallery at the east end, is of Hopton wood stone. The main altar, carved in oak by Meyer of Munich, features a large crucifix and statues of the Virgin and Saint John, with paintings of Saint Augustine, Saint Andrew, Saint Patrick, Saint Lawrence and Saint Francis of Assisi below. The church had two side altars in addition to the main altar. The parish has a Liturgy Committee that supports liturgical ministries and prepares the liturgical and prayer life of the community.

Parish life

The parish has an Evangelisation and Formation Committee that supports ministries and programmes which evangelise and catechise. The parish has a Halls Committee that manages the Halls and reports repair work to the Finance and Property Committee.

The parish has a holiday club. The parish has a team of Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion who are commissioned by the Archbishop and DBS checked.

Regular events

The parish holds a Parish Christmas Dinner for all parishioners. The parish shop opens after Mass every day, selling Catholic diaries, directories and Christmas cards.

Sacraments and pastoral care

The parish has a Parish Social and Pastoral Committee that discerns the needs of people in the parish and wider community, especially the poor, and identifies resources to meet those needs.