A New Church PT II
The building of the new church and presbytery began in October 1962. The last major function in the old school hall was the presentation made to Father Dempsey in October 1962. On February 11th 1964, the new priest, Father Thomas Hookham, moved into the new presbytery and church and said the first Mass there. Cardinal Heenan formally opened the church on 12th April 1964, the occasion having been delayed because Cardinal Heenan had been in Rome attending the second session of the Second Vatican Council, which was to lead to so many far-reaching changes in the Catholic Church.
On 31st May 1975, Cardinal Heenan returned for the consecration of the church by Bishop Patrick Casey, an
old pupil of our school (A new church cannot be consecrated until it is free of debt). Our new church is very different in style from the old one. It is a simple, modern, brick building with stone dressings. Its sturdy tower at the front catches the eye of passers-by, particularly at night when it is floodlit. Internally, the main body of the church is simple and spacious and has a gracefully curving ceiling. Inside the church there are two stone statues of Our Lay and Saint Joseph, by the well-known artist Michael C Clark (who also carved the Holy Family above the entrance to the church. In the Lady Chapel is a beautiful icon, in Byzantine style, of Our Lady and the Child Jesus, by the painter G Ramos-Poqui. The most recent artistic additions to the church are a portrait of Blessed Cyprian Tansi by John Bennett, donated to the church by the Nigerian Community of the church on 20th January 2002; and a carved, wooden sculpture of Saint Patrick, by Septimus Waugh, the son of the famous novelist Evelyn Waugh. This was placed in the church to mark Saint Patrick’s Day 2003. the presence of this statue reminds us all of the immense contributions of our Irish parishioners over 150 years.
Since the church was rebuilt, there have been technical innovations. It is now equipped with an excellent sound system and a sophisticated lighting system has been installed in the sanctuary, while at night the front of the church is floodlit.
The church is now carpeted, partly to beautify it and partly to help maintain a quiet, peaceful atmosphere. In 2002, the church was repainted with a new colour scheme and the effect has been to give it a light, airy and spacious appearance, while an increased use of gilding has given the church a richer look.
Senior citizens party in the new Church hall, 1960s
A New School
After the new church had been built, the school used the old church until it and the old houses owned by the church were demolished in the early 1970s and the school was rebuilt much as it is now.
The first phase of the new school was occupied in 1972. Since then, Our Lady and Saint Joseph’s Roman Catholic Primary School has gone from strength to strength and is now recognised as being among the best primary schools in Hackney. Probably the best-known ex-pupil of the school was the late Bishop Patrick Casey (of Westminster and Brentwood) who attended the old school under the church.
A New Church pt I / Our Changing Parish Community
Back to Contents