| St Joseph's Church | |
|---|---|
_(October_2023)_(5).jpg) Main entrance | |
  St Joseph's Church Location in Southampton | |
| 50°53′57″N1°24′21″W / 50.89925°N 1.4057°W /50.89925; -1.4057 | |
| OS grid reference | SU 41886 11250 |
| Location | Southampton |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | Southampton-City-Catholics.org.uk |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Founded | 1830 (1830) |
| Dedication | Saint Joseph |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Parish church |
| Heritage designation | Grade II listed[1] |
| Designated | 14 February 1969[2] |
| Architect(s) | Augustus Pugin, J. G. Poole andLeonard Stokes |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | March 1843 |
| Completed | 1845 |
| Administration | |
| Province | Southwark |
| Diocese | Portsmouth |
| Deanery | Southampton |
| Parish | St Joseph and St Edmund[3] |
St Joseph's Church is aRoman Catholicparish church inSouthampton,Hampshire. It is situated on Bugle Street, in the centre of the city, north ofTown Quay. Thechurch chancel was designed byAugustus Pugin and built in 1843. It was the first Catholic church founded in Southampton after theReformation. It was thepro-cathedral of theDiocese of Portsmouth in 1882.[4] It is a Grade II listed building.[1]
In 1789, French Catholics fled to Southampton after theFrench Revolution. They worshipped in secret in a room in 13 St. Michael's Square in the city. In 1792, they opened a chapel in 67 High Street. In 1828, apresbytery was built. Two years later, St. Joseph's Church was built in the presbytery's garden.[1]
In the early 1840s, a new St Joseph's Church had to be built to accommodate the growing congregation. In 1842,Augustus Pugin was asked to design the church. In March 1843, the foundation stone was laid. However, the parish could not afford Pugin's designs. Once the chancel was built, J. G. Poole, an architect and local surveyor, was asked to complete the church. Thenave was built to his designs and in 1845, the new church was opened.[1][2]
On 19 May 1882,Pope Leo XIII established theDiocese of Portsmouth. As theCathedral of St John the Evangelist inPortsmouth was under construction, St Joseph's church served as thepro-cathedral until 10 August, when the new cathedral in Portsmouth was opened.[4]
In 1888,Leonard Stokes was asked to renovate and expand the church. The north and south walls were rebuilt. A seventh window was added to the north side of the church. The height of the church was raised and the ceiling along the nave was replaced.[1]
In 1911, the high altar, designed by Pugin was moved from the sanctuary to the Sacred Heart chapel in the church. In 1971, it was moved back and became the main altar. In 1981, a restoration of the church was undertaken.[1]
In 2006, the diocese reorganised itsparishes. St Joseph's parish was merged with the neighbouring St Edmund's parish to form the Parish of St Joseph and St Edmund, which is sometimes referred to as the Southampton City Centre Parish.[3]
Attached to the church is the Stella Maris Pastoral Centre. It is situated between St Joseph Church and theAnglicanSt. Michael's Church next door. It hosts parish events and meetings of local organisations.
St Joseph's Church has two SundayMasses, one at 6:15pm on Saturday evening and the other at 10:00am on Sunday morning. St. Edmund's Church has four Sunday Masses. They are at 9:00am, 11:00am and 7:00pm on Sunday and there is aMass in Polish at 7:00pm on Saturday evening.[3]
