Car collides with church on West Sussex / Surrey border
The emergency services rushed to a church in Horley after reports of a collision involving a car.
Fire crews joined the emergency response after a vehicle ‘collided with’ the Church of the English Martyrs, on Vicarage Lane, on Saturday morning (April 18).
Photos posted on social media show significant damage at the Catholic church, which was built in 1962.
A spokesperson for Surrey Fire and Rescue Service said: “We attended an incident at 10:37 in Horley, on Vicarage Lane, where a vehicle had collided with the Church of the English Martyrs.
"One appliance was in attendance, with the ambulance service also responding.
"Minor injuries were reported.”
Fire crews had left the scene by 12.25pm.
The parish of the English Martyrs is part of the Crawley deanery group of parishes in the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton.
The church’s website reads: “The parish priest is Fr Alban Aguezeala and the parish house is on the same site as the church. The church is usually open during the day so that the many people who pass by may use it for a quiet moment or a time for prayer in their busy lives.
"The present church was designed by the architect, J H Alleyn and built in 1962. The plan is octagonal with projecting chapels to the north and south and a rectangular narthex to the west.
"The church is built of yellow brick. At the north end of the covered walkway leading to the main entrance is a detached bell tower of open 'ladder construction'. Inside, the fluted shape of the central roof dictates the undulating form of the continuous band of clerestory windows.
"At the lower level, an ambulatory, running behind the pierced screens flanking the sanctuary, encircles the building.”
Find out more at http://englishmartyrshorley.com/about.html