Record

Repository	Archives of the Archbishop of Westminster
Ref No	AAW/DOW/PAR/179
Title	Shepperton, St John Fisher
Level	Series
Description	In 1936, the Wilson family donated property for the construction of a Catholic church which opened a few years later. The architect was Thomas Henry Birchall Scott, who also designed St Edmund's College, Ware, and St Andrew's Hospital, Dollis Hill. In 1940 priests from the St Francis de Sales Order in Hampton Hill were tasked with saying Mass on Sunday morning at the church. In 1947, Father James 'Jimmy' Lahiff served briefly in the parish and made a concerted effort to persuade local Catholics to come to the church in Shepperton rather than attending churches in nearby Sunbury or Walton. Fr Lahiff's success in this saw the congregation grow, so it was decided in September 1948 to establish Shepperton as a formal parish, with Father George Groves serving as parish priest from then until September 1952. At that time, there was no presbytery, so Fr Groves had to stay in lodgings in Squires Road. Fr Groves' successor, Fr John O'Sullivan, was responsible for the new church being built in 1965 to replace the existing one, which was then converted into the current church hall. A house for priests to live in was also purchased from Joseph Wilson during his time as parish priest. A large car park was also built at the rear of the building for use of the Church and Hall.

Hours of Marie de Rieux, The

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