Roman Catholic Church of the Sacred Heart, Tisbury

Roman Catholic Church of the Sacred Heart, Tisbury
Date of image
2003
Date uploaded
25 October 2007
Number of views
771
Number of comments
0
Location of image
Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre, Chippenham
Notes

There had been a substantial number of Roman Catholics in Tisbury since the Reformation, under the protection of the Arundells of Wardour. It was the largest concentration in the county and they worshipped at the chapel of All Saints in Wardour Castle. In 1897 the 12th Lord Arundell gave a site for a church at the lower end of the High Street. Money for the building came from voluntary subscriptions and gifts, and the foundation stone was laid on 3rd November 1898. It was built as a chapel of ease and was built in a plain Gothic style from a design by Rev. A.J. Scoles. With a chancel, nave and north Lady Chapel, 200 people could be accommodated and there is a great richness of interior decoration. In 1934 the house to the south was acquired for use as a parochial house and the church was consecrated and declared the parish church for the districts of Tisbury and Wardour. By 1985 the church had a resident priest.