OS grid reference SO9457022558 Country United Kingdom Website StGregorys.org.uk Opened 1876 Architect Charles Francis Hansom | Location Cheltenham Denomination Roman Catholic Founded 1809 Phone +44 1242 523737 | |
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Address 10 St James' Square, Cheltenham GL50 3PR, UK Diocese Roman Catholic Diocese of Clifton Similar Cheltenham Minster - St Mary's, Prinknash Abbey, St Peter's Church - Gloucester, All Saints' Church - Cheltenham, St Peter's Church - Leckhampton | ||
St Gregory the Great Church is a Roman Catholic Parish church in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England. It was founded in 1809 and rebuilt from 1854 to 1857. It is situated on the corner of St James' Square and Clarence Street. It was designed by Charles Hansom and is a Grade II* listed building.
Contents
Foundation
In 1809, a chapel was built on the site of the present church. It was built with the guidance of its first priest, Fr Augustine Birdsall OSB from Douai Abbey.
Construction
In the spring of 1854, the monks from Douai Abbey were still serving the church when building work started on the church. The church was designed by Charles Hansom, brother of Joseph Hansom and father of Edward Joseph Hansom. He also designed Plymouth Cathedral and St Osburg's Church in Coventry. He designed it to be a Gothic Revival church.
In May 1857, the chancel was completed and the church was opened. That year, work on the tower and spire had started, but was not complete. In 1876, the tower and spire were completed. The next year, on 6 November 1877, the church was consecrated.
Inside the church, the stained glass was designed by Hardman & Co. The altar and reredos were made by Farmer & Brindley. The majority of the carving was done by Messrs R. L. Boulton & Sons of Cheltenham; a firm who also worked on Cheltenham Town Hall, St John's Church in Poulton-le-Fylde, St Mary's Church and St Alban's Church in Warrington and St Cuthbert's in Earls Court.
Parish
The church is in the parish of St Gregory the Great with St Thomas More. It serves the St Thomas More Catholic Centre on Princess Elizabeth Way in Cheltenham. On 30 November 2011, St Thomas More Church was demolished and the church hall was developed to accommodate a sacristy, a chapel and use by community groups.
The church has three Sunday Masses: 9:30am, 11:15am and 6:00pm. St Thomas More Catholic Centre has one Sunday Mass at 5:00pm on Saturday.