St George

Introduction

The Roman Catholic parish of Worcester traces back to a Jesuit mission founded in 1590.

History

St George's was built in 1828/29 by local architect Henry Rowe on the site of a previous church. The elaborate facade was probably added in 1887 by S J Nicholl, who had also added the chancel in 1880. There was further interior re-modelling in the early twentieth century. Edward Elgar was organist here from 1885 to 1888, succeeding his father William, who was organist from 1841 to 1885. The church is a robust example characteristic of those which manifested the confidence of the Catholic community after the Catholic Emancipation Act of 1829.

Architecture and furnishings

The church has a gallery to the west, north and south sides, with curved staircases and a gallery on two Ionic columns. The screen to the east end has two fluted columns to the centre with honeysuckle frieze and a wide opening between two smaller openings; there is a coloured marble reredos. The church is a Grade II* listed building, first listed on 22 May 1954. The exterior has an ashlar facade to the west, otherwise pinkish-red brick with red brick window arches and a slate roof.

The west facade is in Italianate Baroque style. The plan comprises a nave and chancel. The exterior is a single tall storey of three bays, with the central bay breaking forwards. The central bay's lower stage is rusticated, drawn into voussoirs over the central entrance, with two roll-edged steps to eight-panel double doors and a fanlight with decorative ironwork grille.

The crowning entablature and central dentil pediment is inscribed 'HIS'. There are three round-arched windows with honeycombed glazing to the centre and stained glass, in tooled architraves and with pediments on corbels, the centre one with a keystone. The north and south sides have five windows under flat arches of gauged brick and with coloured glass. The gallery has stepped benches. The cornice has egg-and-dart and acanthus moulding, with moulding to the centre of the ceiling and three ceiling roses with acanthus motifs.

Parish life

The Holy Dusters maintain the church's cleanliness and tidiness, ensuring it remains a place of reverence and sanctuary. Church stewards support worship services and events by guiding and assisting parishioners with grace and kindness.

The parish has five active and two retired deacons. The parish runs Advent and Lenten Penance services where a number of priests are available to hear confessions.

Sacraments and pastoral care

The parish requires parents to book onto a baptism course before arranging a child's baptism. Godparents required to attend a baptism course pay a fee of £30 per person and receive a certificate on completion.

The parish requires a minimum six months' notice for a marriage so the couple may be properly prepared. All couples who wish to get married at St George's or Our Lady Queen of Peace are expected to attend a marriage preparation course run by Marriage Care. Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist take Holy Communion to the sick or housebound who are unable to attend church.