St. Teresa's

Introduction

Saint Teresa's Church in Merstham, designed by J. Alleyn, was completed in 1959, funded entirely by the local community.

History

On All Saints day 1953, Canada Hall was put at the disposal of Merstham's 200 strong Catholic community as a Mass centre, provided through the kindness of the Anglican Church of All Saints. In March 2009, the name of the new parish was announced as The Nativity of the Lord and the inaugural mass was celebrated at St Joseph's Church, Redhill, on 30th May 2009, the same year in which St Teresa's church had its fiftieth anniversary. The main and side altars are of Clipsham Stone and Mr. Theodore Kern carved the Crucifix over the main altar.

Architecture and furnishings

The church is built on a raft of concrete, with concrete columns carrying the weight of the upper part of the nave and roof. The architect was J. Alleyn, B.Arch., F.R.I.B.A. assisted by Mr. W. W. McDonald M.A., A.R.I.B.A. and the builders were H. Bacon & Son of Coulsdon with Mr. J. Bignall as the site foreman.

Parish life

St Teresa's is part of the greater Parish of the Nativity of the Lord, which in 2009 brought together 2,500 Roman Catholics from Holy Family in Reigate, St Joseph's in Redhill and St Teresa's in Merstham. The parish runs a 50/50 Club.

The parish has a Saint Vincent de Paul Society group. The parish has a Union of Catholic Mothers group. The parish has a Teams Of Our Lady group. The parish has a Saturday Get-Together for adults 18+.

The parish has an HCPT Group 151. The parish has a Co-Workers of Mother Teresa group.

The parish has a St Bernadette's Prayer Group. Children aged 7 and above are prepared for First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion, with catechists in all three churches so children are prepared in their familiar church.

The parish SVP groups reach out to those in need and have a mobile phone for this purpose. Extraordinary ministers of Communion bring Communion to the parish's frailer members, with about 50 visited monthly. SVP members also visit the sick and housebound on a regular basis.

The Confirmation programme runs each year during the Spring and Summer terms, with sessions held at the PNL Hall at St Joseph's Church on Monday evenings. The Reconciliation programme runs in the autumn term, concluding with services of Reconciliation in Advent and again in Lent.

Sacraments and pastoral care

Baptism of adults typically involves at least a year of enquiry and instruction, covered in the RCIA Programme. The Confirmation programme is open to those in Year 10 or above, at school or sixth form college, who have been baptised.