| Description | In 1930, a temporary wooden church of the Blessed English Martyrs was built in Barnhill Road. At first it was served by the Rosminian Fathers in Dollis Hill, but by 1937, the parish had grown so much that Cardinal Hinsley designated it as a separate parish. In january 1938, the first resident priest, Fr John C McGrath.
In March 1946, Fr Charles McMenemy became parish priest following the sudden death of Fr McGrath. The congregation continued to grow under his care and in 1963, the decision was taken to build a new church. Wilfrid Mangan, who had designed the church of Our Lady of Willesden, designed a new church but his plans had to be shelved when Brent Council compulsorily purchased the site required. The new site in BLackbird Hill that was offered in its place proved too small to accommodate Mangan's design. Ill-health meant that Mangan was not able to adapt his design, so his commission was relinquished to London architect, B D Kaye. Kaye produced his own design, circular church with a flat-roofed presbytery and hall attached, taking into account the Vatican II tenets on the celebration of Mass. Work began on the new building in April 1969. The contractors were J. Murphy & Sons
The first Mass was celebrated on 8 July 1970 by Fr McMenemy with James Scanlan, Archbishop of Glasgow, presiding. On 25 October that year, Pope Paul VI declared the English Martyrs as saints, so the owrd 'Blessed' could now be omitted from the title of the church.
On 21 January 1976, Fr McMenemy died while on holiday in Edinburgh and a new priest, Fr Edward Bilsborrow, was appointed in his place in June. Fr Bilsborrow under took many refurbishments. He bought an electric organ in memory of Fr McMenemy and reordered much of the interior. The altar railswere removed and the tabernacle placed in a more prominent position. A new crucifix was hung above the altar and the baptismal font was brought to the front of the church. The Maltese artist, Carmel Cauchi, erected ceramic statues of the Madonna and Child on one side of the Sanctuary, and the ENglish Martyrs on the other side. The statues were unveiled and blessed by Cardinal Hume on his first visit to the church in September 1970 to confirm some of the young parishioners.
Cardinal Hume consecrated the church on 24 May 1981. In 1985, Fr Bilsbarrow retired on the grounds of ill-health, and the parish passed to the Augustinian Recollects. Fr John Docherty, OAR, came to the parish in February 1985 and Fr Francis Umendia, OAR, the new parish priest, arrived in September.
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