Sacred Heart Church, Caterham

Sacred Heart Church in Caterham, formally the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, is a Roman Catholic parish church in Caterham-on-the-Hill, Surrey. Built in the early 1880s in Gothic Revival style, it is a Grade II listed building and one of the more distinctive places of worship in this corner of Surrey.

Where is the church and how do you find it?

The church sits between Essendene Road and Whyteleafe Road, just off the High Street in the centre of Caterham-on-the-Hill. That makes it easy to fit into a short walk around the town. It lies in the Tandridge district, south of London, at roughly 51.288 N, 0.087 W, so it is a realistic stop on a day trip from the capital.

How did the church come about?

The local Catholic community dates to 1879. At the request of a local parishioner, James Danell, Bishop of Southwark, sent Fr Francis Roe to Caterham. His first Mass took place on 24 August 1879 in a nearby military depot, where army officers had set up a temporary chapel. The congregation soon grew enough to plan a permanent building.

The foundation stone was laid on 24 June 1880, and the church was completed on 11 August 1881 at a cost of £5,000. The architect was Edward Ingress Bell (1837-1914).

What stands out in the architecture?

The church follows a cruciform plan with transepts. An apsidal chancel with side chapels forms the east end, while a narthex runs across the west front. A wooden, shingled flèche rises above the crossing. A vestry extension links the church to the priests' houses, though those additions are outside the listing.

Inside, the chancel walls keep their nineteenth-century paintings of angels and foliage. The interior decoration was designed by Joseph Aloysius Pippet (1840-1903), who trained with Hardman & Co., a firm known for Gothic Revival church art. Pippet also designed a series of murals showing scenes from the life of Christ.

Heritage status

The building was designated Grade II on 19 November 1984. Grade II is the most common level of listing in England, covering buildings of special architectural or historic interest.

Frequently asked questions

Is the church still in use? Yes. It is an active parish church, so visit quietly and avoid entering during services.

Who designed it? Edward Ingress Bell was the architect, and Joseph Aloysius Pippet designed the interior decoration.

When was it built? Work began in 1880 and the church was completed on 11 August 1881.

Is it a listed building? Yes, it has been Grade II listed since 1984.

What else is nearby? The church stands off the High Street, so shops, cafes and quiet streets of Caterham-on-the-Hill are close by.