St. Philip Howard

Introduction

The parish of Saint Philip Howard in Cambridge was established in 1978 by splitting off from the parish of Our Lady and the English Martyrs. The church was built in 1978 and designed to be used as both a church and hall.

History

The new parish was named Saint Philip Howard to echo a Cambridge connection, as the mother parish celebrated two Cambridge men, St Thomas More and St John Fisher. The worshipping community previously used the auditorium of Saint Bede's Catholic School before the new building was completed. The largest overhaul of the building took place to mark the Twenty-Fifth Anniversary of the Parish. In late 2020, the outdoor shrine to Our Lady of the Rosary was re-constructed.

The parish launched an appeal for funds in February 2023 for the redevelopment project. The redevelopment project has secured funds approaching £2 million from parishioner pledges and reserves, including a £75,000 donation from the Benefact Trust. An anonymous donor has agreed to underwrite 50% of the cost of the redevelopment project. Planning permission for the redevelopment was granted by Cambridge City Council in October 2023.

The redevelopment project aims to raise £2.8 million to extend and renovate the church building. The redevelopment project aims to secure the fabric of the church for the next 40 years.

Architecture and furnishings

A dividing screen separates the worship area from the hall area, which includes kitchen facilities and a smaller meeting area. The building has a small multi-purpose room with glass partitioning between it and the worship area, housing the repository. The building has wheelchair access and a loop system for the hearing impaired. The building has toilet facilities including baby changing and a disabled toilet.

The church's carpark has been doubled in size. The worship area contains the Blessed Sacrament and various Saints representing the nationalities of the worshipping community.

Parish life

The parish has a Syro-Malabar community with its own catechism classes for years 1-5 and 6-10. The parish has an African community. The parish has an Opus Dei women's group that meets monthly. The parish has a Secular Franciscans group.

The parish has a junior choir. The parish catechetical programme is divided according to the liturgical rite of the families: Latin or Syro-Malabar. The parish's publications use hymns under the Calamus Licence number 1962.

Regular events

The junior choir prepares music for Parish events. The parish sings the entrance, offertory, and communion antiphons at Mass. The parish sings the Salve Regina after Pentecost. The parish holds a Christmas Fair as part of its fundraising events.

Sacraments and pastoral care

The parish runs a course of instruction for adults already baptised in another Christian Church not in communion with the Catholic Church. The Syro-Malabar catechism programme introduces children to the prayers and format of the Syro-Malabar Liturgy.

The parish has a natural family planning contact. In the Latin Rite, children prepare for their First Confession and First Holy Communion at the end of Year 3.