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Sacred Heart Church

Needingworth Road, St Ives, Cambridgeshire, PE27 5JT

  • 14 Sep 2024
  • In person
  • Pre-booking not required

Visitors will be able to explore the unique history of 'Pugin's Little Gem' and learn about key people who overcame personal tragedy, adversity and challenges to create Sacred Heart Church.

With the theme for the 30th anniversary of Heritage Open Days this year of 'Routes-Networks-Connections', visitors will have an opportunity to explore the stories of key people who overcame personal tragedy, adversity and challenges to create Sacred Heart Church (formerly St. Andrew's) in Cambridge in 1843, and have it moved to St. Ives in 1902.

The fascinating routes-networks-connections include:
• the internationally renowned architect who designed St. Andrew's Church and who is connected to the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Palace of Westminster, and whose name is given to a room in the House of Commons.
• a successful grocer and tea dealer from the North of England who connects Sacred Heart Church with St. Georges Cathedral, Southwark, and Gloucester Cathedral.
• The remarkable Dutch family that connects the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam with Sacred Heart Church and the parishes of St. Mary's Church, Grantham, Our Lady of Willesden Church, London, a parish priest at Porthcawl in the Archdiocese of Cardiff and St. Labre Indian School, Montana, USA that served children from the Crow and Northern Cheyenne tribes..
• the route taken to transport the church and its contents from Cambridge to St. Ives and the possible connection with the local family related to the generous benefactor and civil engineer born in London.












Timings & Tours

Saturday 14 September:
1030-1530

Location & directions

Needingworth Road, St Ives, Cambridgeshire, PE27 5JT

Contact on day:
Ellen Kemp
Telephone number:
+447845413857

Booking information

Pre-booking requirement:
Pre-booking not required

Accessibility details

The Church is all on one level with no steps. Visitors are not allowed access to the Sanctuary (altar area). There is some parking on site suitable for disabled - it is not marked as such however.

Additional information

Volunteers will be present to welcome and assist visitors and information will be available to explain the routes, networks and connections of the 'Little Gem' with its fascinating history and the remarkable stories of key people involved in its creation. The Church will not be open for services during the Heritage Open Day event.

Check out our online channels

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