By Steve Turner
The small Catholic Church at 123 Cuckfield Road, looks every bit like a house, save for the large sign saying ‘St Luke’s Catholic Church’ and the small wooden cross on the gable end of the main roof. Sandwiched between the Church owned cottages either side, it has been part of the Hurstpierpoint landscape and focal point of worship for generations of local Catholics.
Originally an Anglican meeting room, it was acquired, along with the two cottages in 1925 for the princely sum of £425, loaned by the Diocese and paid back by the parish through enthusiastic fundraising, particularly by the Stringer and Gladman families who organised dances and Whist Drives (a card game social gathering).
The altar was made and presented by the Carthusian community at the monastery near Cowfold and the sanctuary lamp given by Lady Augusta Miller, of Wanbarrow Farm. A blue and gold damask curtain hung behind the altar. Early Mass attendances were about 20/30 on a Sunday but over the years the Church has been extended and was seeing numbers of 60/70.
Extensions saw the rear wall moved back to provide a new altar space in 1928 at a cost of £700. A side chapel was built in 1963, another extension provided a sacristy and cloakroom facilities in 1959; these extensions used garden space of the two cottages either side but being Church property this wasn’t a problem.
A gallery was provided in 1958 and outer porch provided in 1965; all this work allowed more seating to be provided for the vibrant and ever-growing number of worshippers. The rear extension includes two beautiful stain glass windows, depicting ‘St Luke the painter’ and ‘St Luke the doctor’ commissioned by Mgr. Canon Jeffrey Haydn Scott in about the year 2000.
The cottages either side have provided accommodation over the years for retired housekeepers and priests alike; a well-beloved priest and first ‘Parish Priest’ Fr Stuart Bell lived at 125 from 1978 until the Priest’s House at Keymer was built in 1985. Keymer and Hurstpierpoint having been previously under the administration of St Wilfrid’s in Burgess Hill. He regularly took groups of us to Lourdes each Easter to assist with the disabled pilgrims, assisted by another local parishioner, Paddy Kite.
There have been, as you would expect, a succession of priests over the years, all contributing, whether their tenure was long or short, to the wellbeing and needs of the Parish. Canon John Stapleton is worthy of a mention for his passion for music and installing a pedal organ.
Countless numbers of unsung heroes have contributed to the successful running of the Church.
Pick up a copy of July’s Hurst Life today to read about all the other people who contributed to the beating heart of St Luke’s.