Our Lady Star of the Sea

Introduction

Bishop Riddell of Northampton laid the foundation stone on 23 August 1900, and the church opened on 5 June 1902.

History

The first permanent chapel was created above a fishing net store in the Denes by the first appointed mission priest. In 1884 the Reverend Alexander Scott raised funds for a new church building, and in 1885 purchased the site of the current building. In 1899, an anonymous donation of £10,000 enabled the parish to engage the architects George and Reginald Palmer Baines of London. In the Second World War, the church was severely damaged by enemy bombing.

The building was consecrated on 22 October 1952. In 2019 major repairs were carried out, with grant aid from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Architecture and furnishings

The church is built of red Somerleyton brick and Costessey ware (terracotta made in Costessey near Norwich). The building has a tall nave of six bays, with a single-storey apse at the east end, and a copper-covered, timber octagonal fleche towards the eastern end. The tower is of three stages, with angle buttresses, and is topped with four crocketed pinnacles. The interior has five-bay arcades of polished granite columns, with alternating round and octagonal capitals.

The organ loft contains a 1902 Norman and Beard organ. The high sanctuary arch has naturalistic leaf capitals. There is an original set of furnishings: an elaborate gothic reredos with painted figures beneath gilded gothic arches, and a throne and altar, all carved by A B Wall of Cheltenham. The Sacred Heart chapel on the north of the sanctuary has an original marble altar, reredos and altar rails.

The Lady chapel on the south of the sanctuary retains its original furnishings and is decorated with angels and chequered ribs, but the vault is painted blue. The north wall contains wall paintings depicting St Thomas More and St John Fisher.

The parish provides an organist and, if singing is desired, a cantor (employed singer) for funeral music. The parish holds a Holy Saturday service.

Parish life

The parish provides a ministry of taking Holy Communion to sick and housebound parishioners, carried out by a priest or an Extraordinary Eucharistic Minister.

Sacraments and pastoral care

For non-baptised adults or those baptised in other Christian denominations who wish to become Catholic, the parish offers a programme of initiation run according to the needs of the parish. Baptisms take place during one of the Sunday Masses when the whole community is gathered. To be married at the church, couples must give the Parish Priest at least six months' notice and attend the Diocesan Preparation Course 'So Great A Mystery'.

A parishioner can plan a funeral liturgy with the priest at any time, without involving a funeral director. In 2024, 25 candidates were prepared for Confirmation and 22 of these were confirmed. 15 children received First Holy Communion in 2024, and a new class commenced in October 2024 with 12 children registered. Social events are held every month and have proved successful. Only a few people help with the monthly social events.

Visiting

Visitors can enter the church through the south-west door, which is linked to the Stella Maris Hall by a glazed link, or through the west door that opens into the narthex. The church retains a largely complete set of original pews for visitors to see. The clerestory and aisle windows display stained glass patterns in an Arts and Crafts style. The five two-light windows of the apse contain rich, colourful figurative stained glass. The narthex at the west end is formed from glazed panels.