Our Lady of Beauchief & St Thomas of Canterbury

Introduction

The temporary church was dedicated to Our Lady of Beauchief and St Thomas of Canterbury.

History

The church is of Italian Romanesque style in the form of a Greek cross. In 1908, there were some 200 Catholics in the area and the nearest church was St Wilfird's on Shoreham Street. Early in 1910, a temporary church was built at a cost of £400 and could seat a congregation of 250. At the end of the Great War, the temporary church was in urgent need of roof and floor repairs and it was therefore decided to collect funds to build a new permanent church.

A sum of £500 was donated by the Woodseats Catholic Club. The church was opened with High Mass in 1932. Canon Bird became the parish priest in 1944. The sacristies and proper steps up to the organ loft were built in 1959-60.

The rails between the altar and congregation were removed and the baptismal font now stands below the foundation stone laid by the Bishop of Nottingham in 'The Year of Our Lord, 1931'. The Stations of the Cross were made in Dublin by Imogen Stuart and were completed in Lent of 1961.

Architecture and furnishings

The church is styled in a Greek cross design and consists of five squares of 24 feet each. The bricks for the church were imported from Belgium and the tiles from Spain. The three mosaics were introduced between 1960-2 and made by the late Mr Mayor Marton.

Parish life

Parish groups include S.V.P., Outreach Group, Mothers and Toddlers, Scouts, Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, Friday Lunch Club and Children's Liturgy Group. The parish has a school, St Thomas of Canterbury Primary, located at Chancet Wood Drive. The parish has a Chapel of Ease, English Martyrs, in Totley.

The parish school was funded by the parish, and parishioners were asked to buy a brick to help fund its construction, which commenced in 1968. The parish school was a pioneer in the 'open-plan system' which integrated all children, especially those with special needs. The church is located south of Sheffield City centre on the A61 in the suburb of Woodseats.

Sacraments and pastoral care

The parish directs those with queries about the sacraments or wishing to arrange a Baptism or Marriage to speak to the Parish Priest after Mass on Sundays.