Saint Raphael, Surbiton

Introduction

Saint Raphael's Church in Surbiton was built in 1847-48 by Charles Parker, with Alexander Raphael as patron. Pevsner described Saint Raphael's as 'the most interesting church in Kingston'.

History

Alexander Raphael died on 17 November 1850 and was buried in the family vault beneath the high altar. After Alexander's death, his nephew Edward opened the church to the public as the first Catholic place of worship in Kingston since the Reformation. In 2007 a major programme of building and restoration began, including external stonework cleaning and repair in 2009.

Architecture and furnishings

The church is built of Bath Stone with an Italianate square tower or campanile containing two bells. The interior is Renaissance style with Ionic arcade columns supporting semi-circular arches along a tall narrow nave and two side aisles. The high altar is of white Sicilian marble, installed when the church was built, with six candlesticks probably designed by Charles Parker. The stained-glass window above the sanctuary, installed soon after the church was built, is believed to be Italian or French and unique in this country.

The organ in the loft was made by Bishop & Son in 1866. The Lady Altar dates from 1873 and was designed by Christopher Wray. The tower is surmounted with a large cross gilded in twenty-four-carat gold.

The church is ashlar with a pantiled roof, with a three bay nave with aisles and lower, shorter chancel. The church has a central western tower of three stages with tripled round arches and strong bracketed eaves to a pyramidal roof. The church has two light round headed aisle windows with Corinthian column between lights, oculus over, and round enclosing arch. The church has triple round arched and shafted windows to the clerestory.

The church has a round headed entrance below the tower. Flanking the church to north and south are two wings, each three bays wide, two storeys high, of brick with stone dressings and pantile roofs.

The tiled floor was laid in 2011 and consists of thousands of individual tiles, with seven large roundels representing the Seven Sacraments. The celebrant's chair and two matching stools are believed to have been commissioned by Charles Parker, carved in oak with cabriole legs. The smaller westward facing altar was purchased in Fatima, Portugal, in 2004. The tabernacle door is possibly thirteenth century, of Armenian origin, and gilded in twenty-four-carat gold.

The brass crucifix on the high altar is of a later date than the altar. The church has a memorial to Princess Anne Löwenstein-Wertheim who died in an attempt to fly across the Atlantic. The church has a memorial dedicated to parishioners who died in the Great War 1914–18. The church has a monument commemorating various members of the Savile, Mexborough and Raphael families.

The church has a memorial to Alexander Raphael written in Latin, attesting to his 'generous financial assistance for the education of poor young people'. The church has two other tablets in the narthex, one commemorating the consecration of the church, the other listing chaplains and parish priests. The church has two large marble basins containing holy water. The church has a statue of St Antony of Padua behind the font.

The church has a gilded monogram of the letters IHS above the window. The church has a baptismal font and gilded Pascal candlestick near the pulpit. The morning Masses include music, with the first Mass incorporating a Children’s Liturgy.

Parish life

The parish runs an RCIA programme for those already Catholic and those enquiring about becoming a Catholic. The RCIA course is a course of study for those who seek Baptism and other sacraments of initiation, also available to all Christians. The parish has well-established First Holy Communion and Confirmation programmes for young people.

The parish provides instruction to those intending to get married on the sanctity of marriage and the power of the Sacrament. Those who wish to marry in church must give a minimum of six months notice.

The parish choir and organists add to the beauty of the liturgy. Both morning Masses are followed by refreshments in the parish hall. The parish has a garden and courtyard that are open in the warmer months. The parish has a gallery of photos from celebrations, sacraments, events and trips. The church is open daily for the celebration of Holy Mass and the sacraments, and is a place where people can contemplate and pray in silence.

Regular events

Each year, the statue of Our Lady and the Child Jesus is carried in a May Procession around the church grounds. On the anniversary of the consecration and on major feast days, the candle beneath each consecration cross is lit.

Sacraments and pastoral care

Parents are encouraged to approach the Parish Priest before or soon after a child's birth so that baptism can be arranged promptly. A child may be baptised at this church if the family lives in the parish, is part of Kingston University, or regularly worships here. All parents must attend a Baptism Preparation Course, which is offered about four times a year. Those needing the Sacrament of the Sick at home should contact the Parish Priest.

Notable people and events

The first chaplain was Father Jeremiah Donovan in 1850. In 2013 a new parish priest became the fifth parish priest. In 2017 a new parish priest succeeded the previous one.