St Joseph's Church is a

Roman Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institut ...

parish church A parish church (or parochial church) in Christianity is the Church (building), church which acts as the religious centre of a parish. In many parts of the world, especially in rural areas, the parish church may play a significant role in com ...

in Maidenhead, Berkshire, England. It was built in 1884 and designed by Leonard Stokes in the Gothic Revival style. It is located on the Cookham Road north of the town centre. It is a Grade II listed building and William Wilberforce junior played a role in its foundation.

Historic England Historic England (officially the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England) is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. It is tasked with prot ...

Church of St Joseph, Cookham Road, Maidenhead
retrieved 27 May 2022

History

Construction

In 1850, William Wilberforce junior, the son of William Wilberforce, converted to

Catholicism The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...

. In 1867, he established a mission in Maidenhead by installing a chapel in a property at St Ives Place. In 1871, a Catholic school began in the area. In 1879, the site for the current church was bought. The architect Leonard Stokes was commissioned to design the church. In August 1884, construction on the church started. The total cost of building the church, school and presbytery was £6,025 and the church itself was £3,018. In December 1884, the church was opened.

Maidenhead - St Joseph
''Taking stock'', retrieved 27 May 2022

Developments

From 1913 to 1914, the church was extended. The

sanctuary A sanctuary, in its original meaning, is a sacred space, sacred place, such as a shrine, protected by ecclesiastical immunity. By the use of such places as a haven, by extension the term has come to be used for any place of safety. This seconda ...

sacristy A sacristy, also known as a vestry or preparation room, is a room in Christianity, 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 us ...

, transepts and the church tower were added. Leonard Stokes designed the additions, but to new designs. In 1963, plans were made to further extend the church. In 1965, construction of the extension to the west of the church was completed. The architect was Max G. Cross of the architectural firm Geens Cross & Sims from Bournemouth and the builders were Halfacre & Young. In 1985, the old presbytery was replaced by a new house and the parish centre was opened. The parish centre was designed by Daniel Lelliott Krauze. From 2004 to 2006, repairs were made to the church.

Parish

St Joseph's Church is a

parish A parish is a territorial entity in many Christianity, Christian denominations, constituting a division within a diocese. A parish is under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of a priest#Christianity, priest, often termed a parish pries ...

with St Elizabeth's Church in Cookham. There are four Sunday Masses at St Joseph's Church at 6:30pm on Saturday and at 8:00am, 9:15am and 11:00am on Sunday.

References

External links