St Joseph's

Introduction

St Joseph's is a Roman Catholic parish church in Sheringham, built in 1908 and extended between 1909 and 1910 and again between 1933 and 1935, all to the designs of Sir Giles Gilbert Scott. The church is listed at Grade II.

History

In 1906 Catherine Deterding gifted Revd Thomas Walmsley Carter of Cromer parish money to purchase a site for a church in Sheringham. The new church was consecrated on 02 August 1910. By 1933 Fr Carter had raised sufficient funds to extend the church and Scott was engaged once more.

The church was extended with two nave bays, a new porch and baptistry, under the direction of Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, with work carried out by Cornish and Gaymer Limited. Canon Carter died in 1938 and was buried near the main door. The high altar was reduced in length by about a quarter, the gradins removed, and it was brought forward to replace the wooden altar.

Architecture and furnishings

The walls are constructed of red brick with stone dressings, as are the boundary wall and gate piers. The east gable has a high circular window with cinquefoil tracery surrounded by six mouchettes. The reredos on the east wall of the sanctuary includes copies of saints shown on the C15 rood screen at St Helen, Ranworth in the Broads; it was shortened in 1993, when the altar was detached and brought forward. The suspended rood by Ferdinand Stuflesser (1855-1926) was moved one roof truss towards the sanctuary (west) in 1993.

The organ chamber retains an organ manufactured by Richard Heslop of London. The Jesse window was presented by Mrs Emmeline Watkin in thanksgiving for her son gaining a first at Oxford. The original porch and entrance to the church were converted into a side chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Walsingham. The main roof of the church has a slate covering, and the structures adjoining the church generally have plain tile coverings.

Parish life

The North Norfolk SVP Conference draws members from the Catholic parishes of Cromer, Sheringham, Aylsham and North Walsham and cooperates closely with the Food Bank and other local Christian communities. The parish pastoral council, whose members reflect the makeup of the parish Mass congregation, operates under statutes issued on 1 May 2025. A catechesis lead leads the children's Liturgy of the Word on Sundays at Sheringham and prepares children for first Holy Communion and first confession. The parish has a Catholic Truth Society lead.

A treasurer maintains the parish's financial records. Fund-raising and social events are held at regular intervals through the year.

Notable people and events

Canon Carter died on 19 November 1938, having been ill with a heart problem for some time. Father Cyril Banham became Parish Priest at St Joseph’s in the beginning of 1939.