St Ambrose - Adswood

Introduction

St Ambrose Church in Adswood was opened at a Mass on 1 January 1939 by Bishop Moriarty.

History

The sanctuary was reordered in the mid 1970s, with the removal of the high altar, low walls and rails. The church is constructed of brown brick laid in Flemish bond, with blue brick dressings and a slate roof.

Architecture and furnishings

Above the door is a ceramic figure of St Ambrose, and a six-light wheel window. The low relief Stations of the Cross are from the Tyrol and were set up in February 1939. The post-conciliar forward altar is carved and painted oak, probably by Hayes & Finch. The church is oriented with the sanctuary to the west and the entrance front facing the road to the east.

The tower has a blocky profile with semi-circular headed openings to the upper stage. The basement level is faced in blue brick with paired steel windows. The lean-to aisles and transepts have round-headed steel windows, in pairs, but the clerestory is blind. The sacristies and confessionals along the north side are flat-roofed.

Inside, the lofty nave has an eight-bay king-post roof with exposed timbers and plain semi-circular headed aisle arcades. The walls are plain plastered above a brick dado and the floor is laid with teak blocks. The spacious re-ordered sanctuary is enclosed with wrought iron parclose screens to north and south. Other 1930s fittings include a pair of carved and gilded wooden statues to the Sacred Heart and Our Lady, the nave pews, and in the narthex, wrought-iron grilles and baptistery gates. The sacristy has oak fittings.

Music and liturgy

The parish choir supports a traditional musical style of chant and hymnody with contemporary and multicultural song. The parish is developing a music programme covering Gregorian chant, traditional hymns, contemporary hymns and worship songs, Taize and multi-cultural song. There is no audition requirement to join the choir. The choir is part of the Parish Music Ministry, run by volunteers and committed to keeping costs low. Adults interested in joining the Church follow a six-month RCIA course culminating at the Easter Vigil Mass with the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Communion.

Parish life

The parish has a Society of St Vincent de Paul group. The parish has a Children's Liturgy Group. The parish has Extraordinary Ministers of Communion. The parish has Readers (Lectors).

The parish has Altar Servers. The parish has Family Groups. The parish has a Medical Outreach Mission (MOM). The parish has a Three Parish Young Catholic Adults group.

Sacraments and pastoral care

During home visits, the priest administers the Sacrament of Anointing to those in need. Couples may marry at one of the parishes and can speak with the parish priest about beginning marriage preparation.