Our Lady Immaculate and St Philip Neri

Introduction

Our Lady Immaculate and St Philip Neri is a Roman Catholic parish church in Kirtling, built in 1877 to designs by Charles Alban Buckler for William Henry John North.

History

In 1871 a small temporary church of corrugated iron was built in the grounds of Kirtling Tower, dedicated to Our Lady Immaculate and St Philip Neri. In 1877 the temporary church was replaced by the present one, designed by Charles Alban Buckler. The iron church was transported to Stowmarket, where it served a similar purpose until the building there of the present church of Our Lady.

Architecture and furnishings

The church consists of a nave, apsidal sanctuary, north porch and south aisle, with a sacristy with a gallery or family pew over projecting from the south side of the sanctuary. The north porch has a two-centred arched entrance, double boarded doors and in the gable a mandorla, prepared for an unrealised carving. Inside, the nave and chancel comprise a single volume, with an arch braced timber roof rising from corbels and ashlars. The floors are of black and red tiles in the nave and aisle, with patterned encaustic tiles in the sanctuary.

The marble and limestone Gothic high altar and reredos are crowned by a central tabernacle throne. Trefoil windows in the south aisle depict the Sacred Heart and Agnus Dei. The benches in the nave appear to be original, supplemented by later benches at the west end and in the aisle. Near the holy water stoup by the north door is a photographic copy of a 1915 watercolour of the church interior.

The church is rectangular on plan with an apsidal north end. The walls are of flint with limestone dressings, and the roof is covered with plain tiles. At the east end, the apsidal sanctuary is buttressed with four lancet windows, the central bay being blind. More recent glass in the nave and chancel commemorates the golden wedding anniversary of Lord William and Lady Frederica North (1908).

An Annunciation window was erected by Frederica North in 1910. A window to an Oratorian priest, Fr Philip Gordon (d.1900), was erected by Lord and Lady North. A St Theresa window to Frederica (d.1915) was erected by her children.

Parish life

The parish has an active St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP) offering practical help, friendship, and support to those in need within the community. The parish offers a Ministry of listening and prayer for parishioners in need, with trained helpers handling situations such as bereavement, health issues, and family problems.

The parish runs an Alpha programme, open to those 18 and above, where parishioners and non-parishioners explore life's big questions through conversation, video, and discussion. The parish maintains a strong and supportive partnership with St Louis Catholic Primary School, working alongside the school community in fostering Catholic education and spiritual development.

The parish offers Confirmation preparation for candidates aged 14 and above who have already received their First Holy Communion. The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is offered as a journey for adults who wish to explore the Catholic Church more deeply.