The Congregation Of The Oratory

General information

The Sacred Heart is the mother church of some seven churches and mass centers built to serve the needs of a rapidly growing population.

During the Second World War the church was fortunate to escape relatively undamaged in the bombing which destroyed the Methodist Church a few yards further down Richmond Hill.

In 1969 The Jesuit community handed over the pastoral care of the Sacred Heart Parish to the secular priests of the Diocese of Portsmouth.

The 1970s and 1980s saw considerable work of restoration to both the church and the presbytery. During this time the interior of the church was re-ordered in line with the liturgical decrees of the Second Vatican Council.

It was during this time too, and to mark the historic visit to England and Wales by his holiness, Pope John Paul II, that the belfry was restored and a peal of six bells was installed. On the evening of Monday 28 November 1983 'The bells of Richmond Hill rang out for the first time. The Sacred Heart church is one of only a few Catholic Churches in this country to have its own peal of bells.
(See the search option link above, for the story on the Bells.)

Today The Sacred Heart continues to serve the needs of the local Catholic community and is pleased to welcome visitors from all over the world.