St Swithun, Yateley

Introduction

St Swithun in Yateley, within the Diocese of Portsmouth, was designed by Barton Wilmore & Partners. The church is distinguished by its octagonal plan and spacious interior.

History

Before the current church, Catholic worship in Yateley often took place in a chapel attached to Yateley Hall, a former medieval manor house that became a school owned by the Sisters of Christian Education after the war. A chaplain was appointed in 1946, and the chapel served as the Mass centre for local worshippers for many years. In 1964, land from the Yateley Hall estate was conveyed to the Diocese of Portsmouth as a site for a permanent church. The foundation stone for the church was laid on 1 December 1968.

From 1979 to 1981, St Swithun’s was shared with the congregation of the nearby Anglican parish of St Peter after a fire destroyed their building. The parish added a parish hall in 2000. The church grounds include historic cast-iron statues that originally stood at LSU College in Southampton before being gifted to the parish.

Sacraments and pastoral care

Parents who wish to have their child baptised should speak with a priest according to where they live, and the priest will explain the process and guide them through the preparation. Children prepare through a parish programme to understand the meaning of the sacrament of First Holy Communion. Couples wishing to marry in a Catholic church should contact the priest at least six months in advance, with a year recommended.