The church of the Sacred Heart
Our parish church is devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which inspires us to embrace a life of love, compassion, and humility..
The devotion
Origin
The devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus originated in the late Middle Ages but gained prominence in the 17th century through the visions of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, a French nun. In these visions, Jesus revealed His Sacred Heart as a symbol of His boundless love for humanity, urging her to promote this devotion.
Relevance
The devotion to the Sacred Heart is significant as it emphasises Jesus' immense love and compassion for all people. It encourages us to reflect on His sacrifices and to respond with love, repentance, and dedication. The Feast of the Sacred Heart, celebrated 19 days after Pentecost, is a major event in the liturgical calendar.
Symbolism
The Sacred Heart is depicted as a heart surrounded by flames, topped with a cross, and pierced, often with a crown of thorns encircling it. This imagery symbolises:
Love: The flames represent the burning love Jesus has for humanity.
Sacrifice: The cross signifies Jesus' sacrifice on Calvary.
Wounds: The pierced heart reflects the physical and emotional suffering of Jesus.
Crown of Thorns: Represents the suffering and humiliation Jesus endured.
Additional devotions
Within the church statues include ones of St Thérèse of Lisieux and Our Lady. The icons in the church were collected by Fr McClean, parish priest for over 35 years until 2021, and the painted Stations of the Cross are by Fr McClean’s uncle.
The church building
The mission at Goudhurst was established in 1882 with a chapel dedicated to the Sacred Heart established at Oakleigh House, a Home for Crippled and Invalid Children. A small piece of land was bought in 1886 and the present church was erected as a school soon afterwards.
The church is built of brick with a tiled roof. It is a simple rectangle with the gable end to the street, and it has large segment-headed side windows. Only the group of three steeped lancet windows to the street and the adjoining pointed arch to the porch give any ecclesiastical flavour and the church looks more like the school which was its original purpose. There are brick buttresses along the sides and decorative stepped brick detailing in the gables. At the east end, placed at right angles is a smaller rectangle incorporating the sacristy. The interior is plain, with exposed roof trusses and pine pews.