OS grid reference TQ3075574673 Country United Kingdom Founder(s) Fr Henrik van Doorne Phone +44 20 7274 4625 Architect John Francis Bentley | Location Brixton, London Denomination Roman Catholic Opened 12 June 1887 Dedication Body of Christ | |
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Website CorpusChristiBrixton.org Address 11 Trent Rd, Brixton, London SW2 5BJ, UK Similar Brixton, St Winefride Church - S, St John's Church - Wigan, St Joseph Church - Roehampton, Holy Trinity Church - Chipping | ||
Corpus Christi Church is a Roman Catholic Parish church in Brixton, within the London Borough of Lambeth. It was previously under the administration of the Society of Jesus. It was founded in 1886, was designed by John Francis Bentley and is a Grade II* listed building.
Contents
Foundation
In 1880, a mission to the local Catholics of Brixton was started by Rev. Henrik van Doorne, a priest from Flanders who had lived in England for many years. He bought a house in the area, for £2,610, so that it could become a chapel. In 1885, John Francis Bentley was asked to design a larger church for the area. He recommended that Bethel House, a large on the corner of Brixton Hill and Horsford Road, be bought so that a church can be built on the site. The house was bought for £3,550. On 14 July 1886, the Bishop of Southwark John Butt laid the foundation stone.
Construction
On 12 June 1887, the church was opened by the bishop. As there was a lack of funds, only the chancel and two chapels and a sacristy was built. In 1904, the transepts of the church were added.
Later history
In 1902, Corpus Christi Primary School was built at the back of the church, on the land that was previously occupied by Bethel House.
On 23 July 2005, the Jesuits handed over administration of the church to the Archdiocese of Southwark who continue to serve the parish. The Jesuits still live nearby and assist the parish.
Parish
As the church was not completed its capacity is not that large. It has five Sunday Masses to accommodate the congregation. There is one Mass at 6:00pm on Saturday evening, at 9:00am, 10:30am and at 12 midday on Sunday, and the last one at 6:00pm on Sunday evening. There are weekday Masses at 9:30am from Monday to Saturday.
The parish has a relationship with Corpus Christi School whose mission statement states that 'We are here to educate our children to the highest possible standard in a community which has the Gospel values, traditions and beliefs of the Catholic Faith at the centre of its ethos.'