A bit of History:
A small Catholic church was built in Kings Road Fleet in 1908. It was intended that a larger building be added when the need arose, so that the first part would be a side-chapel of the main church. When however, the enlargement was made in 1934 a new plan was followed which severely limited any further development. The last addition was made in 1948, bringing the seating capacity up to 172.
The present building was designed and built by Lanner Ltd., of Wakefield Yorkshire, to a ground plan put forward by Canon Walsh. The octagonal design of the main building allows seating for 326 to be so arranged that there are only ten rows in the main aisle and nine in the two sides.
The porch, tiled in checker board pattern of terrazzo, confronts one immediately with the font seen behind a clear glass and mahogany screen. At the same time one sees through to the altar which, in its hexagonal base and the Welsh slate from which it is made, proclaims its unity with the font. Both are the work of Michael Murray, who also made the altar candlesticks, the sanctuary lamps and the combined alter-cum-processional cross.
The vaulting of the nave is by four pairs of laminated wooden arches meeting in a steel pressure ring, each pair giving a clear span of 68 ft, surmounting the ring is a slim fleche.
The walls are of reconstructed Cornish granite, the floor of maple, except for the altar area which is of Yorkshire stone.
The mosaic of the Madonna with angels overshadowed by the Holy Spirit is the work of Dr J. 0. Bajo, a Hungarian working in this country. The Stations of the Cross were cast in bronze at Angers in France by Rene Gourdon.
The silver-crowned statue of the Madonna and child is a link with the old church, and was retained at the request of some senior parishioners.
The Solemn Blessing of the new Fleet Catholic Church of Our Lady was on the 25th March 1966, by The Rt Rev. Mgr. Derek Worlock Bishop of Portsmouth.
The church was served by Priests from the Salesian College, Farnborough until 1947, who allowed a priest to live in Fleet.
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