Christ the King Church

As a good Catholic boy of Irish descent I was somewhat dragged along as a young lad to church every Sunday. All Souls was our place of worship but I have vague memories of going to the original Christ the King church on Westhill Road. This was before the modern chapel that stands there currently and would have been early 70's? Maybe it was my age and size but I seem to remember thinking and recalling it was not much more than a wooden shed? Anyone recall and have any images?

Hi NeilsYard, Hi all I have attended weddings there & my grandson is a member of their football club. That about sums my experience up for Christ the King Church.

Yes it was a weather boarded building built on Scots Lane, prior to that they rented a house in Scots Lane, for the supper as they had it first in Moseley Ave in a room at the Rialto their congregation were Polish, Ukrainian, then Italian, so it says, I know by a neighbour where I use to live who attended she told me it was one of the priest who built the club, so perhaps he built Our Lady of Lourdes Christ the King Church at the same time, as you know it now, it does say a priest and another part of the church helped to pay for the church to be built.

Some useful info here (opens as a PDF file) although still no images of that wooden church pre '72/'73 before the current 'modern' one.

I remember the wooden RC Church of Christ the King, in the 1940s-50s my grandparents' next door neighbours in Malvern Road, Coundon worshipped there, though I had never been inside and, alas, know of no picture of how it was then. Would it turn up at the Herbert?

Thanks Prof, I'll keep up the search. I can definitely remember being in it so would have been one of my earliest memories.

Hi Neil, my Godparents had their wedding at Christ the King in March 1973, I was born nine months later and was baptised there

Hi River. Was that in the wooden 'shed' or the current modern brick one? I'm guessing the new one?

Good evening Neil, I have absolutely no idea, I was baptised on 29th December and being only nearly two months old I wasn't aware much of what was happening! When I speak to my Godmother next, (I've just called but couldn't reach her), I'll ask her. I have never actually visited Christ the King at any time so it will be interesting to do so next time I am in Coventry. Thank you for replying. I took in a lot of information yesterday, it ranged between all the car companies, who was in government at certain times, where and when and who did what and maybe the only thing that was missing was why. It's great to make contact with the old Coventry and I salute you for all you have posted!

When I speak *with* my Aunty and Godmother

Thanks, River. As previously mentioned one of my very earliest memories is being in that wooden shed of a chapel. I'd love to see an image of it.

The History of Christ the King and Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Coventry Last Updated November 25th 2006 Page 9 of 21 "A non-Catholic friend in these parts has expressed surprise at the large number of people of both sexes, of all ages, from infants to the ancient, whom they have seen issuing from this church of Christ the King after the services. On an average about 1,100 persons pack themselves into it every Sunday .... it is always crowded out..." "The altar in the temporary church which was opened on 7th March 1933 in the presence of the Archbishop of Birmingham" "A permanent church could not yet be built, because of the cost, so the temporary building was enlarged. Father Rooney was assisted at the weekends by the Franciscan Friars from Olton Friary until the first curate, Father Bernard McKenna, was appointed in July 1936. On 1st February 1938 Christ the King primary school was opened with one hundred and one children on the registers. By August of the same year the numbers had increased." There is also a photo of the altar in the wooden church but I could not copy or upload it!