The Growth of the Parish of Wanstead.

In the 1840's, Wanstead was a village, but as the adjacent districts of Walthamstow and Leytonstone developed, so the population increased, and with that, the Catholic community. The opening of a mission in Walthamstow in 1849 would eventually have particular significance for Wanstead. Fr O'Grady, who became Parish Priest of St. George's, Walthamstow, opened a mission here in Wanstead. He decided to negotiate the purchase of a small building in Hall Road, (part of the present Gardner Close) to serve as a Mass centre and a present parishioner remembers being taken to Mass there as a small child. This building was demolished in 1966. Fr. O'Grady together with other priests from Walthamstow, one of whom was Fr Petit, later Bishop of Menevia, served the new Mission. The new centre served Wanstead until 1917, when the Sisters of Mercy from Commercial Road came to open a Convent in Wanstead. The centre was then transferred to the converted spacious coach house in the Convent grounds. It was about this time that the Diocese of Brentwood was created, with Bishop Ward as its first Bishop and Monsignor O'Grady its first Vicar General.

On August 4th 1919, Fr Basil Booker, was appointed the first resident Parish Priest for Wanstead. His first concern was to find a suitable site for a permanent Catholic church. When a market garden in Cambridge Park was put up for sale, Fr Booker was able to purchase the land with money that had already been donated to the building fund.

In July 1927, Bishop Doubleday laid the foundation stone of the new church. The centre aisle was soon completed and on October 13th 1928, the Church was opened. Some months later, early in 1929, the altar was consecrated. The Stations of the Cross, painted by Mr. Booker, father of the Parish Priest, were blessed.

For the structural security of the church it was recommended that side aisles be built, but it was not until 1934 that the east aisle was added. In 1940, the west aisle was constructed, thus completing the Church, as we know it today.

 

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