St Winefride, Wimbledon South

Introduction

St Winefride, Wimbledon South, is a Roman Catholic church in South Wimbledon, within the Archdiocese of Southwark, designed by architect Frederick A. Walters and built in 1904-5. The church is distinguished by its Romanesque style, executed in red brick with stone dressing.

History

The church was built in 1905 to serve the growing Catholic community in South Wimbledon, who had previously gathered for Mass at St Mary's Roman Catholic School since 1882. The Jesuits founded their church of Sacred Heart at Edge Hill, Wimbledon in 1886, establishing a Catholic presence in the area.

The parish was originally staffed by Jesuit Fathers until 1961, when it came under the care of the Archdiocese of Southwark. Walters, the architect for the Sacred Heart, also designed St Winefride's. Walters was articled to Goldie and Child and, from the 1880s, was renowned for his versatility in the use of various styles. The style and materials of St Winefride's owe much to the influence of Scott, Bodley and Bentley.

Architecture and furnishings

The church has a rectangular plan with a wide nave, narrow aisles, deep sanctuary, Lady Chapel at the south-east corner, sacristy and vestry on the north-east side, and baptistry at the north-west corner. The interior has six-bay double arcades in brick with stone dressing carried on brick piers, with a wooden gallery at the west end. The west elevation has a central round window in the gable end with plate tracery pierced by eight round windows. The west elevation includes a tall belfry, shallow in depth, pierced by two round-headed openings with decorative voussoirs and a pedimented top with ornamental brickwork.

The Latimer Road elevation has a small porch at the north-west corner with triple lights in the gable and two round arches with rough cast infill on each side wall. The nave wall has alternating bays of rectangular panels of rough cast and round arched bays with nogging in the spandrels. The church retains original fixed oak pews and a wood block floor. The large reredos fills the whole of the central portion of the east end and is made of carved and inlaid marble and alabaster.

The reredos has a solid retable with a richly embossed and enamelled gilt tabernacle in the centre flanked by inlaid roundels with instruments of the Passion. The reredos includes supports terminating in turretted canopies encasing the figures of St Winefride and St Ignatius. The reredos has a central throne for the Blessed Sacrament surmounted by a larger domed turret with Christ rising from the tomb, and the Holy Lamb in the panel beneath. The reredos has three tiers of arcading with columns of green marble with caps and bosses of white alabaster, and the larger arcades are filled by statues of the four evangelists and angels.

The altar is of marble and stone with an embossed and gilded metal front. The alabaster altar rail, with coloured marble inlay, is separated by wrought-iron gates.

Parish life

Parishioners serve as ministers and readers, and assist with collections, cleaning, flower arranging, and sacristy duties. Each year the parish prepares about 20 couples for marriage, many of whom return to Ireland, South Africa, other parts of the UK, and beyond for their weddings.

St Winefride's Flower team, a volunteer group, arranges flowers in the church weekly throughout the year except during Advent and Lent. The parish supports the people of South Wimbledon through sacramental preparation and active community involvement.

Regular events

The London Catholic Social Group holds regular social and networking events for Catholic adults over 35, including walks, meals, karaoke evenings, outings, galleries and an annual Christmas meal.

Sacraments and pastoral care

Couples should contact the parish at least 6 months before their marriage for preparation. First Holy Communion is celebrated for children in year 3 with a connection to St Winefride's parish. Confirmation is for young adults in year 8, with preparation possibly including a day away. Confirmation for adults, often necessary for marriage, is celebrated as part of the Easter Vigil after suitable preparation.

Sacramental preparation in the parish is for children and young adults living in the parish or with a record of regular attendance. Anointing of the sick is available in Advent and Lent, or on request. Most of the parish's children go to Wimbledon College (boys) or the Ursuline High School (girls) with a mixed sixth form.