Our Lady Help of Christians Church, Blackheath

Our Lady Help of Christians Church also known as St Mary's Church is a Catholic parish church in Blackheath, Borough of Greenwich, London. It was built from 1890 to 1891 and designed by the Alfred Edward Purdie, in the Gothic Revival style. It is located on Cresswell Park, just off Lee Road, close to Blackheath station. It is a Grade II listed building.

Our Lady Help of Christians Church
St Mary's Church
OS grid reference	TQ397759
Location	Blackheath
Country	England
Denomination	Catholic
Website	StMarysBlackheath.org.uk
History
Status	Parish church
Founder(s)	William Gowan Todd Charles Butler
Dedication	Our Lady Help of Christians
Consecrated	3 September 1906
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade II listed
Designated	8 June 1973
Architect(s)	Alfred Edward Purdie
Style	Gothic Revival
Groundbreaking	1890
Completed	1 July 1891
Construction cost	£4,147
Administration
Province	Southwark
Archdiocese	Southwark
Deanery	Greenwich
Parish	Blackheath

History

Foundation

In 1870, Rev Dr William Gowan Todd moved to Blackheath. He started a Catholic orphanage in Park House on the Cator Estate in Blackheath. Originally, the orphanage was in Greenwich, near Our Ladye Star of the Sea Church. However, the orphanage had to move to make way for a convent. In Blackheath, Todd had a chapel built, where St Mary's Hall is now. Originally, the chapel was just for the use of the orphanage. However, local Catholics started to attend Mass there (preferring it over travelling to Our Ladye Star of the Sea in Greenwich) and Todd soon received permission for it to be a chapel for the area. In 1873, the chapel formally became the site of the mission in Blackheath.

Construction

In 1888, the priest at the mission was Fr Francis J. Sheehan. He worked on the building of a new larger church. Charles Butler and his family funded the building of the church and the leasing and purchase of the land from the Cator Estate. Originally, the church was built on land that was leased. However, the Butlers endowed the church with funds so that the land could be bought by the church when it became available. In 1890, construction work started on the church. The architect was Alfred Edward Purdie, who was a student of Augustus Pugin and assistant to Gilbert R. Blount. On 1 July 1891, the church was opened by the Bishop of Southwark John Butt. The cost of constructing the church came to £4,147. However, more additions were made to the church. In 1894, the side altars were finished and then consecrated again by the bishop. Until 1900, stained glass windows were installed. Stained glass in every window was added, and they were all made by Hardman & Co. as John Hardman Powell, who managed the company, and was its chief designer, lived nearby at 12 Lee Road. On 3 September 1906, the church was consecrated by Bishop Peter Amigo. In 1913, Catherine Butler, gave the church a £10,000 endowment. The orphanage chapel became St Mary's Hall, the parish hall, but it was destroyed during the Second World War, and was rebuilt and reopened in 1955.

Parish

Near to the church is St Matthew Academy, it is the amalgamation of St Joseph's Academy, Blackheath and Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School. In 1919, the De La Salle Brothers moved St Joseph's Academy to Blackheath from Clapham. In 1922, the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary came to Blackheath and founded two schools, St Theresa's Secondary School (closed in 1992) and Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School. In 2007, St Matthew Academy was formed from what was Our Lady of Lourdes and St Joseph schools. The church has four Sunday Masses at 6.30 pm on Saturday and at 9:30 am, 11:00 am and at 5:00 pm on Sunday.

See also

• Archdiocese of Southwark

External links

• Media related to Church of Saint Mary, Blackheath at Wikimedia Commons
• Official website