St Stephen's Church, Bournemouth

St Stephen's Church is an Anglican parish church in Bournemouth, Dorset (formerly in Hampshire), England. The liturgical life of the church is rooted in the Anglo-Catholic tradition. The church has a noted lady chapel and celebrates Marian Masses, Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament and recitation of the Rosary for the Society of Mary. Devotion to Our Lady of Walsingham is also common.

St Stephen's Church, Bournemouth
View from the southeast
Map
50°43′24″N 1°52′51″W / 50.7232°N 1.8807°W / 50.7232; -1.8807
DenominationChurch of England
ChurchmanshipAnglo-Catholic
WebsiteOfficial website
History
DedicationSaint Stephen
Administration
ProvinceCanterbury
DioceseWinchester
ArchdeaconryBournemouth
DeaneryBournemouth
ParishSt Peter with St Stephen
Clergy
Vicar(s)Vacant
Laity
Organist(s)Sean Tucker

The church is close to Bournemouth Town Centre and Meyrick Park.

History edit

The church was designed by architect John Loughborough Pearson as a memorial to Alexander Morden Bennett, first vicar of St Peter's Church, Bournemouth. It is constructed with Purbeck stone and Bath stone. Its nave was built from 1881 to 1883 and the chancel from 1896 to 1897. The tower was built from 1907 to 1908. It is a Grade I-listed building.[1]

Vicars edit

 
Church seen from the northeast
  • 1881–1911 Fr Alexander Sykes Bennett
  • 1911–28 Fr George Philip Trevelyan
  • 1928–44 Fr Philip Harold Rogers
  • 1944–52 Fr Geoffrey Heald
  • 1952–58 Fr Francis John Michael Dean
  • 1958–62 Fr Charles Edward Burnett Neate
  • 1962–70 Fr George Percy Wilkins
  • 1970–73 Fr Anthony Douglas Caesar
  • 1974–83 Fr John David Corbett
  • 1983–87 Fr John Catlin
  • 1987–94 Fr Paul Hastrop
  • 1994–2012 Fr Robin Harger
  • 2009–2023 Fr Ian Terry

Music edit

The church has an organ by William Hill dating from 1898. A specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register. There is also a small 5 stop chamber organ dating from 1870. The specification of the chamber organ can also be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.

List of organists edit

  • 1881–93 T. J. Baker
  • 1894–1930 Henry Holloway
  • 1930–35 Percy Whitlock
  • 1936–66 Cyril Knight
  • 1967–75 Spencer Fackerell
  • 1976 Roger Hill
  • 1976–82 Cyril Knight
  • 1982–88 Ian Harrison
  • 1988–94 Anthony Wood
  • 1994–2019 Ian Harrison
  • 2019– Sean Tucker

Gallery edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Historic England. "CHURCH OF ST STEPHEN (1324756)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 25 July 2014.