St George's

Introduction

A site for St George's was given by Mr George Beale, and more land was added by Miss Westwood; the architect was Leonard Williams of Harpenden.

History

In 1926 the Church had cost £12,000 and the house £1,900. The first service in the permanent church was held on 16 October 1927, and consecration by Bishop Butt followed a year later. During the Second World War St George's survived with little damage beyond a cracked and shaken arch in the south aisle. Father Russell died in 1965 as the result of a road accident outside the Church. 1978 saw the Golden Jubilee of the Consecration of the Church.

Music and liturgy

A choir of men and boys has sung at St George’s Church, Sudbury, since 1932. The choir has sung twice at the Saturday evening Mass at Westminster Cathedral, and sang there again in March 2014.

Parish life

The St Vincent de Paul Society at St George's is part of an international Christian voluntary network dedicated to tackling poverty in all its forms by providing practical assistance to people in need. The Knights of Saint Columba for the men of the Parish support the parish clergy and undertake a number of charitable activities throughout the calendar year.

The clergy from different churches meet from time to time, and the Good Friday Procession is an annual ecumenical event. Children and adults regularly serve at the altar, and training is always available. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion help with the distribution of the Sacrament during Mass and to the sick at home. A group of parishioners welcome others to Mass on a rota basis.

A Readers rota exists for all Masses for those who wish to read. Adult Formation courses and days of recollection are held throughout the year for adults of the parish to encourage maturation in the faith. A group of parishioners regularly support and help those who are preparing for baptism. RCIA preparation usually begins each Autumn and runs through to Easter preparing adults for reception into Full Communion with the Catholic Church through Baptism and Confirmation.

The Parish SVP Group, in communion with the Parish Team, continues to coordinate the response to the vulnerable in the Parish. The repository is open after all Masses each weekend selling religious books, cards, newspapers and a selection of devotional items.

The parish clergy will help you consider what is best and practical for your particular circumstances for funerals, ensuring the services are true to the tradition of the Church. A rota of parishioners helps on a regular basis with keeping the church clean, neat and tidy.

Sacraments and pastoral care

The Transport Group uses the Sudbury Neighbourhood Centre Minibus to bring elderly and housebound parishioners to Mass and parish events. The parish has a group called AT YOUR WORD that meets in Lent and Advent. The parish has a group of dedicated flower arrangers that meets regularly each week and before festivals to beautify the church. The parish has a Finance Committee that meets 3-4 times each year and co-ordinates the financial side of the parish.

The parish has a group of catechists that prepares children for the Sacrament of Reconciliation and First Holy Communion, with children making this preparation in School Year 3. The parish has a special programme in place for older school-aged children preparing for baptism. The parish has a programme for adult confirmation for those already baptized Catholic but not yet confirmed. The parish has a Children's Sacramental Programme through which Catholic children usually make their First Reconciliation at School year 3, including preparation for holy Communion.