Friday, June 19, 2009
Our Lady of Consolation West Grinstead
The Catholic Church of Our Lady of Consolation at West Grinstead.
There has been a Catholic community in the area since the time of the reformation.
Catholicism was against the law for almost 400 years.
An old house, now called the priest's house was built as a traditional farmhouse. Members of the community dressed as shepherds and there was a secret altar in the hay loft.
It seems to have been a successful way of keeping the anti Catholics at bay for there is no account of anybody being persecuted there - indeed the house would not have survived persecution.
In the mid 19th century Catholics were given permission to worship openly.
The church was built and a community of brothers lived there.
Amongst the worshippers was Hilaire Belloc.
The altar with fine marble carvings.
Statue and flowers.
Wooden grave marker for Hilaire Belloc and members of his family.
Stone tablet on the wall for Hilaire Belloc.
There has been a Catholic community in the area since the time of the reformation.
Catholicism was against the law for almost 400 years.
An old house, now called the priest's house was built as a traditional farmhouse. Members of the community dressed as shepherds and there was a secret altar in the hay loft.
It seems to have been a successful way of keeping the anti Catholics at bay for there is no account of anybody being persecuted there - indeed the house would not have survived persecution.
In the mid 19th century Catholics were given permission to worship openly.
The church was built and a community of brothers lived there.
Amongst the worshippers was Hilaire Belloc.
The church is built of flint and brick.
The altar with fine marble carvings.
Statue and flowers.
Wooden grave marker for Hilaire Belloc and members of his family.
Stone tablet on the wall for Hilaire Belloc.
There was a short pilgrimage walk in the grounds with lovely wooden carvings depicting the life of Christ.
