St Anne Church

Introduction

St Anne Church stands on the Eastern Esplanade in Cliftonville, within the Archdiocese of Southwark, and was built in 1926 with completion in the 1960s. The church was constructed in 1926 in a Gothic style, with walls faced in local Bargate stone and Weldon stone tracery.

Architecture and furnishings

On March 1st 2012, the parish of Ss Austin & Gregory formally merged with the parish of St Anne. The east end of St Anne's Church was added in the 1960s, featuring a small bell tower and yellow stock brick. The interior of St Anne's Church includes a timber hammerbeam roof, an octagonal stone pulpit, and a nineteenth-century altar in the Lady Chapel.

An important feature of the church is the statue of Saint Anne with the Blessed Virgin Mary. The west gable has two tall, two-light windows with decorative tracery, and the main entrance is marked by a large four-light window with Gothic detailing. Modern furnishings mark the sanctuary, and an ironwork screen at the west end completes the church's mix of historical and modern elements. The parish maintains choirs at both of its church sites, inviting parishioners to sing at Mass.

Parish life

The parish runs an active foodbank from its Saint Austin's site and an SVP Youth Ministry at Saint Anne's site. Youth SVP activities include visiting care homes, organising charity fundraisers, and helping at food banks.

The parish ministers to children from birth and baptism through first confessions, communions, and confirmations. Baptisms, first holy communions, and other sacraments are celebrated at both churches.