The high altar was in oak and was a copy of that made for the Queen of Saxony's Royal Chapel. On the south side of the sanctuary, in the first bay from the east was a handsome brickwork seilia. Beyond this, was the small Lady Chapel, with the entrance to the Sacristy on its south side. On the north side was the Nuns Choir, connected by a covered way with the Convent of the Holy Cross. Through this, generations of children have made their way into the church.

In 1907 an attractive wrought iron screen was erected between the arches separating the Nuns Chapel from the Sanctuary.

The organ was rebuilt in 1908 and a large pulpit in mereil and black marble was erected on the epistle side of the sanctuary arch in 1925 by the congregation as a memorial to Father de Lapasture, who had died two years previously.

As the area served by the parish developed, it became clear that the church was no longer large enough to accommodate the congregation, particularly during the holiday season.

Soon after his appointment as a parish priest in 1926, Father Ralph Baines decided to enlarge the church and an extension fund was opened with an anonymous donor giving £3,000 to start the fund. A scheme estimated to cost £15,000 was eventually adopted.

Work commenced in August 1932 and was completed by March 1934.

The enlarged church now held 800 with the most prominent new feature being the tower at 108 feet high. The new main entrance was now via the west doors and through a large porch, over which is the choir loft with access by way of a spiral staircase to the tower above. The tower has two large windows, each 46 feet high and filled with old Norman glass of rich tints. Higher still is the bell chamber housing the angelus bell.

An entirely new and much enlarged Lady Chapel was built, flanked by new and larger sacristies. Halfway down each aisle is a small altar shrine - the one in the north aisle is dedicated to Christ the King and the south aisle dedicated to St. Ignatius.



An altar dedicated to St. Joseph is at the end of the north aisle and behind this is the former Nuns chapel, now dedicated to the English Martyrs. A new church organ was installed, the nucleus of which came from St. George's Cathedral in Southwark.

The enlarged church was blessed by the Rt. Rev. Cotter, Bishop of Portsmouth on the 22 April 1934. The work done is now marked by a brass plate at the rear of the church.

At the north-west corner of the rear of the church is a small shrine dedicated to Theresa of Lisieux, the oak panels being made by Father George Turner, (pictured left) who served the church as one of the clergy from 1930 to 1940.

During the period 1962 - 64, changes were made to the altar by the then parish priest, Father Enright, (pictured below).

The work included rewiring and relighting of the Church, renewal of the roof tiles over the nun’s chapel, reflooring and the provision of new benches for the side aisles of the church. Alterations to the altar included a new stone altar together with stone rails to match.

To meet the changes resulting from the Vatican Council of 1962 - 65, the sanctuary was again modified in 1974 with the altar being moved forward. On completion of this work, the Church was consecrated by Rt. Rev D. Worlock, Bishop of Portsmouth, on 18 July 1974.

A tablet to commemorate this occasion can be seen at the rear of the church.

During January and the early period of 2000, Father Beattie, Parish Priest, made further alterations to the sanctuary. A curtain was again placed over the wall to the rear of the altar in a similar way to that seen in old photographs.

Four angel figures were returned to the niches behind the altar where they had once stood and the altar length shortened. Other changes included a marble lectern and a new carpet to cover the floor.

Earlier, Father Beattie, due to the increasing need for improved security, had introduced closed circuit television to the church and outside areas.

Parish Priests Rev. C. De Lapasture    1897 - 1904 Rev. F. Payne    1904 - 1906 Rev. F. Hayden    1906 - 1910 Rev. C. de Lapasture    1910 - 1912 Rev. J. Clayton    1912 - 1914 Rev. C. Widdowson    1914 - 1922 Rev. F. O'Hare    1922 - 1925 Rev. P. Wolfe    1925 - 1926 Rev. R. Baines    1926 - 1936 Rev. W. Gibbons    1936 - 1946 Rev. J. Baron    1946 - 1961 Rev. V. Gegan    1961 Rev. B. Enright    1962 - 1964 Rev. 0. Fishwick    1965 - 1970 Rev. W, Maher    1970 - 1974 Rev. P. Knott    1974