Our Lady of the Assumption

Introduction

In 1951, a disused wooden church from Kent was bought, transported, and erected by volunteers on the purchased land.

History

On 28 December 1952, Mass was first celebrated by the Southwark Travelling Mission, initially every six weeks. In 1968, building for the present chapel began, funded by the parish football pool and parishioner donations; the existing wooden church was dismantled and moved to Blessed Philip Howard Catholic School in Barnham. In 1969, work on the church neared completion at a cost of £30,000, described by the Chichester Observer as an outstanding example of modern architecture. In 2002, the Nutbourne chapel was closed and its furnishings and stained glass windows were moved to Our Lady of the Assumption.

In 2005, a project was organised to open up and re-order the sanctuary. In 2008, a project was started to enhance the communal meeting area with improved kitchen and toilet facilities; the extension was completed and blessed on 15 July 2012.

Architecture and furnishings

In 2015, improvements to the front garden were designed and implemented by parishioners, including a new teak cross on the church front and an oak bench in memory of Kevin Jamieson. In 2019, a new church organ was installed, purchased largely through parishioner donations with a contribution from Holy Trinity Church, Bosham.