St Joseph's Church is a

Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...

church in Weymouth,

Dorset Dorset ( ; archaically: Dorsetshire , ) is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The ceremonial county comprises the unitary authority areas of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and Dorset (unitary authority), Dors ...

, England. It was designed by George Drysdale and built in 1933–34. The church has been a Grade II listed building since 2009. Historic England consider it a "good example" of a church of its period, which "embodies the late flowering of

Arts and Crafts A handicraft, sometimes more precisely expressed as artisanal handicraft or handmade, is any of a wide variety of types of work where useful and decorative objects are made completely by one’s hand or by using only simple, non-automated re ...

principles with he Romanesque style". They praised the "accomplished and distinctive design" and display of "high standard craftsmanship".

History

The first Roman Catholic church to be built in Weymouth followed the passing of the Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829. Although priests had ministered in the town beforehand, the passing of the act saw Fr. Peter Hartley appointed to the town. He purchased a suitable plot of land in Dorchester Road and had St Augustine's Church built there, which opened on 22 October 1835. By the 1920s, St Augustine's was too small to accommodate the local congregation, particularly during the peak season when holidaymakers and visitors often resulted in overcrowded services at the church. Furthermore, Weymouth's priest at the time, Fr. Jules Ketele, felt Weymouth would be adequately served by a new church in a more central location. A committee was formed in 1925 and fundraising carried out over the following years. A plot of land at Stavordale Road was purchased at the beginning of 1932 and plans for the church drawn up by Mr. George Drysdale of

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

. The building contract was awarded to Mr. William Lacey of Hounslow and the foundation stone laid by the Bishop of Plymouth, Rev. Dr. John Barrett, on 3 May 1933. The church was opened by Bishop Barrett on 18 April 1934. Both the church and its presbytery were constructed at a cost of over £9,000, and with their opening, St Augustine's became a

chapel of ease A chapel of ease (or chapel-of-ease) is a church architecture, church building other than the parish church, built within the bounds of a parish for the attendance of those who cannot reach the parish church conveniently. Often a chapel of ea ...

to St Joseph's. A shrine representing the Lourdes grotto was dedicated in the grounds of the church in 1949. It was erected by Fr. Ketele following his pledge to do so if the church escaped air raid damage during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

. It also acted as a war memorial and contains a tablet listing the local Catholic men who lost their lives during the conflict. A parish hall was opened behind the church in 1951, which was designed by Mr. G. C. Wilkins and built by Messrs A. E. Whettham and Son.

Architecture

St Joseph's is built of painted brick, with dressings in cast concrete and limestone, and roofing of Cornish slate. It was designed to accommodate 300 persons, and is made up of a

narthex The narthex is an architectural element typical of early Christian and Byzantine basilicas and churches consisting of the entrance or lobby area, located at the west end of the nave, opposite the church's main altar. Traditionally the narthex ...

nave The nave () is the central part of a church, stretching from the (normally western) main entrance or rear wall, to the transepts, or in a church without transepts, to the chancel. When a church contains side aisles, as in a basilica-type ...

, north and south aisles,

clerestory In architecture, a clerestory ( ; , also clearstory, clearstorey, or overstorey) is a high section of wall that contains windows above eye level. Its purpose is to admit light, fresh air, or both. Historically, ''clerestory'' denoted an upper l ...

chancel In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar, including the choir and the sanctuary (sometimes called the presbytery), at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building. It may terminate in an apse. Ove ...

, organ/choir gallery,

baptistery In Christian architecture the baptistery or baptistry (Old French ''baptisterie''; Latin ''baptisterium''; Greek , 'bathing-place, baptistery', from , baptízein, 'to baptize') is the separate centrally planned structure surrounding the baptismal ...

, linked

sacristy A sacristy, also known as a vestry or preparation room, is a room in Christian churches for the keeping of vestments (such as the alb and chasuble) and other church furnishings, sacred vessels, and parish records. The sacristy is usually located ...

and attached presbytery. A large bell turret sits on the gable above the main entrance. The interior contains plastered walls, parquet flooring and pine pews. The church's temporary altar was replaced by a marble one in 1937 and its original organ was replaced in 1948.

References

External links

Parish of Our Lady, Star of the Sea, Weymouth website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Joseph's Church, Weymouth Roman Catholic churches in Dorset Grade II listed churches in Dorset Roman Catholic Diocese of Plymouth Grade II listed Roman Catholic churches in England 1934 establishments in England