New Postcard added to website

A new postcard has been added to the Places of Worship page, in the other places in Around Alton Cont. section of the website.

In 1910, the Anglican Community of St. Mary the Virgin bought a house called Highfield in Turk Street, (currently home to Watercress Dental) where they opened a residential training centre for women and girls, who in the wording of the day, were considered 'feeble-minded'.

The chapel which was designed by William Douglas Caröe and built by D.J. Kemp of Alton was added in 1913, built primarily for the sisters and those in residence, it could accommodate just over 100 people.

The Right Rev the Lord Bishop of Winchester (Edward Stuart Talbot) dedicated the chapel on the 15th October 1913. The event was attended by many of the local clergy and was reported in several newspapers. This article is from the 18th October 1913 edition of the Hampshire Chronicle:

‘ALTON. ST. MARY'S HOME: DEDICATION OF CHAPEL. A year ago the chapel was on paper, and the turf uncut; today it is complete, and open for worship. On Wednesday last it was set apart for ever from profane uses, and solemnly dedicated to sacred purposes. The march of events has been rapid. It is but three years ago, and the Community of St. Mary the Virgin was not known in Alton. The work and services, so well appreciated elsewhere, were hardly as much as a name to us. Its choir, now taking part in the services of its Parish Church as well as in those of the Community, did not exist; today these and countless other evidences of useful activity are in being, and the seal of approval has been set on the work by the Lord Bishop of the Diocese. The service on Wednesday last was in many respects noteworthy, but in no way more so than in the presence and support of our Diocesan.’

As I understand it, St Marys Home closed in the 1980s, the buildings were converted and in recent years the chapel was home to the Bell House Dance studio.