St Augustine's Roman Catholic Church, Seaton, Devon

A very simple, unpretentious and yet very pretty church inside, I was reminded about it through a chance conversation with a friend back in June 2011 and decided to take a look shortly afterwards. 

 

 

Built in 1937, the exterior is of a fairly plain Gothic style; both the church and presbytery next door faced with red brick contrasting with the creamy coloured Bath Stone window surrounds, porch surrounds and coping.

It's the interior that looks the loveliest, with its parquet flooring and fabulous open timber roof rafters. The mainly clear windows along the nave, together with plain white walls, really set off the colours of the three stained glass windows and the warm, light wood of the floor and pews. The dark rafters contrast nicely too.

I was very surprised at how modern it is, especially the two stained glass windows at either end. Below left is the window above the altar and right is looking down towards the entrance. I want to say East and West windows but, although most churches are aligned to east & west where feasible, this one appears to have the altar at the north west with the entrance at the south east. 

When I was a teenager I once accompanied a Polish friend to sunday mass in her Catholic church, which was very similar to an Anglican high church. That was in the days of latin services and incense, which I thought was wonderful, and was the only previous reference I had.

The altar end with its small sanctuary, below.

Although I don't know much about catholicism I have heard that these depictions on the wall are the stations of the cross.

Going back down the aisle towards the entrance with another look at that fabulous ceiling, where the font and the Lady altar are situated.

A rather lovely statue of Mary holding the Christ Child surrounded by plants, candles and two delightful jugs full of Hedge Parsley. And in front of that is a stand for votive candles.
 

The presbytery adjoining the church, where the parish priest lives.

There was also a community of nuns in Seaton at one time. I remember seeing them around the town occasionally, although I don't know if they were Catholic or Anglican. They lived in a lovely building just along the top of Fore Street, which is the road almost opposite to the church. Being of the Order of St Francis of Assissi they were called St Clare's nuns, also known as the Poor Clares, and the building - originally a private residence - was subsequently named St Clare's.

St Clare's just before it was demolished, above and below. It was later converted into an adult education college in the late 1970s, when the nuns moved away, and they'll be more about it in a future article about buildings that used to be schools and colleges.

Hopefully, it won't be too long before I can add some more posts. So much catching up to do after such a bad start to the year, I'll have to try and make up for it somehow, lol. Cheers. :)