Outside
The
church is situated on the top of a hill. It surveys the town
of Epsom and looks across to Epsom Downs with its famous race
course and the Queen's stand. This picture was taken shortly
before the church was completed.
It is interesting to observe how many churches, particularly on the Continent were built on the top of hills. In days long before the motor car it was deemed appropriate to site churches in this way. It was perhaps the desire to place the church of God where it would be visible to the entire community.
Going up the hill to church has many echoes in scripture: Christ going up the mountain to pray, to preach; Mount Zion; Mount Sinai where God gave Moses the Law, to name but a few.
The new church is also next to the Catholic primary school which helps the parish as whole to grow as a Christian community.
The
outside of the church has a number of significant features including
- Large cross above the entrance
- Windows which allow lots of natural light into the church
- Tower over the sanctuary which sheds light on to the sanctuary (visible in the picture at the top of page, the tower is on the left at the back)
- A wide and open entrance with glass doors so that visitors get an immediate impression of welcome.
- A large space in front of the entrance where people can congregate and talk
- A much larger car park than our former site
