St Michael and St George

Introduction

The foundation stone of St Michael and St George in Lyme Regis was laid on St George's Day, 23 April 1835. The church was designed by Edmund Goodridge of Bath.

History

The first mass was said on 27 August 1837 by Father Joseph O'Dwyer. In 1838 Father William Vaughan became parish priest and had the presbytery designed by Welby Pugin.

The Lady Chapel was built in 1851, the gift of Burnard Farnell in memory of his wife. The Stations of the Cross were installed in 1851 and are made of papier mache in bas-relief. The stained glass windows over the High Altar were donated by Mrs Ann Wray in 1883 and are the work of Westlake, Lavers & Co. The original organ, donated in 1909 by Alban Woodroffe, was replaced in 1978.

The tower was rebuilt in 1936 after being badly damaged in a storm. The last major restoration was carried out in 1990-91, led by General Sir David Mostyn.

Admiral Sir John Talbot and his wife Juliana are buried in the nave of the church. The person who laid the foundation stone is buried in the church. The church is the oldest post-Emancipation Catholic church in the area, with work beginning in 1835.

Architecture and furnishings

The church is Neo-Gothic, influenced by Salisbury Cathedral, particularly the roof vaults. There is a fine neo-Norman octagonal baptismal font at the foot of the Sanctuary. The church has a gallery connecting to the presbytery. The Lady Chapel contains a family vault where Mrs Bellingham and her daughters are buried.

Parish life

The church school was run by the Servants of the Sacred Heart from 1890, then by a small community of the Holy Child, and finally by the sisters of Christian Instruction until the late 1960s. Lyme has had three Catholic mayors: John Talbot, Alban Woodroffe, and John Broderick.