St Patrick's East Ilsley

Introduction

Saint Patrick's in East Ilsley was established in 1947 so the horse-racing community of East and West Ilsley could attend Mass. The bishop of Portsmouth called this church a basilica.

Architecture and furnishings

St Patrick's serves as a Chapel-of-Ease in the Downland village of East Ilsley, where a Low (said) Mass is celebrated. The prayer chairs were sent to the address Cathedral Church, East Daley. The Eyston family of Mapledurham donated the chalice. The safe is an 18th C carriage safe.

Parish life

The parish serves the Downland villages together with St Mary's in East Hendred. The parish offers coffee mornings after Mass and events in St Michael's Room. There is a St Patrick's committee that parishioners can join.

Confirmation preparation runs every other year and lasts about one year. First Holy Communion preparation starts when children are at least 7 years old. First Holy Communions are celebrated on the Sunday of the Feast of Corpus Christi.

Visiting

The Stations of the Cross in the church were painted by a local artist. Margaret Gallacher painted the murals behind the altar depicting the Annunciation and the Visitation.