St. Catherine Of Alexandria

Introduction

The church was founded by Minna, Dowager Duchess of Norfolk, in memory of her husband Henry, the 14th Duke, who died in 1860.

History

The church was recast in 1883 by M E or C Hadfield. The church was enlarged in 1884 and again in 1904. The old pulpit was used to fashion the present ambo raised platform, and the old altar rails were used in 1980 for the new altar.

Architecture and furnishings

The church is built of stone, aligned North-South, with a C13 French exterior, two gables to the south above the porch, wheel windows, a nave and east aisle of five bays, and a west transept gabled north and south. The stained glass is by Cox and Barnard of Hove (established 1919).

The relics included Saint Generosus, an early martyr in Tivoli, where his relics are enshrined. The relics included Saint Maria Goretti (1890-1902), a devout eleven-year-old girl from near Anzio who was murdered whilst resisting rape, canonised in 1950.

Music and liturgy

The new altar was dedicated in a Mass concelebrated by the diocesan bishop with the parish priests. At the dedication, a Litany of the Saints was sung, and the relics of three martyrs were placed in the new altar. After the Prayer of Dedication, the altar was anointed with chrism, incense was burned on it, it was covered, and it was lit.

Parish life

The parish is a Fairtrade Parish. A pool of fifteen readers is available for the Sunday Mass. A cleaning team cleans the church fortnightly, and more volunteers are sought. A parishioner kindly paid for some new vestments and linens for the sacristy.

A new holy water font has been put in place. Four candidates received confirmation at Arundel Cathedral. The church has a group of Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers, and two new ministers were inducted on May 12.