Benson Memorial Church
51°56′40.27″N 0°01′6.26″W / 51.9445194°N 0.0184056°W
St Richard of Chichester, Buntingford | |
---|---|
Denomination | Roman Catholic |
Website | rcdow.org.uk |
History | |
Dedication | St Richard of Chichester |
Consecrated | 5 June 1940 |
Architecture | |
Heritage designation | Grade II |
Architect(s) | Arthur Young |
Style | Modern Gothic |
Specifications | |
Capacity | 160 |
Tower height | 45 feet (14 m) |
Spire height | 35 feet (11 m) |
Administration | |
Diocese | Westminster |
Deanery | Lea Valley |
Clergy | |
Priest(s) | Cyril Chiaha |
The Benson Memorial Church, dedicated to St Richard of Chichester, is an English Roman Catholic church in the Hertfordshire town of Buntingford. Its name derives from the notable priest and author Robert Hugh Benson who lived locally at Hare Street House and helped fund construction of the church. Benson laid the foundation stone[1] but died before the building was completed. The parish currently shares a parish priest with the Catholic churches in Puckeridge and Old Hall Green.
History
The church was built in 1914 by Arthur Young in the Gothic style and is Grade II listed[2] as a building of special architectural or historic interest. It was opened in January 1915. The Lady chapel was added in 1916 and the porch in 1934. The 45-foot tall tower, surmounted by a 35-foot copper spire was added in 1939. The church was consecrated in 1940[3] by the auxiliary bishop of Westminster, Edward Myers.
References
- Grade II listed churches in Hertfordshire
- Churches in Hertfordshire
- Roman Catholic churches in Hertfordshire
- Churches in the Diocese of Westminster
- Roman Catholic churches completed in 1915
- Grade II listed Roman Catholic churches in England
- 20th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in the United Kingdom
- Churches with a Hertfordshire Spike