History of St John Vianney Parish
Although there were Christian churches in Bexleyheath in the nineteenth century, it was not until 1932 that the parish of St John Vianney started with a small temporary wooden church built on the site on the present hall. Fr James Malone, the Rector of St Mary of the Crays, Crayford, was a man of abundant energy and vision. He was also good at DIY and building work. He arranged for the building of three identical churches: St John Vianney, Bexleyheath (1933), St John Fisher, Bexley (1935) and St Thomas More, Bostall Park (1936). The latter was a great act of faith and vision since at that time the area was mainly open fields. A legacy of £119 was received and Fr Malone bought the site for the first church at Bexleyheath. He used to stay at The Mount, a large house in Fairways near Bexleyheath Golf course, when on holiday from the seminary and so had a soft spot for our town. The Catholics of the area had been looked after by the clergy of St Patrick's, Plumstead until the founding of St Mary's Crayford in 1842. There is a list of Parish Priests of Crayford from that date and they had the spiritual care of the Catholics of Bexleyheath. St Stephen's at Welling was founded in 1923. Our first church was only meant to last five years but in fact it lasted for 45 years, being used as hall when the new church was built. It cost £960. The sum of £626 had been raised leaving a debt of £350. It was built by G.W. Lucas of Bexley. There had been some voices raised at the time which questioned the wisdom of building a church at a time of unemployment. We thank God for the foresight of Archbishop Amigo at the energy of Fr Malone. The new church could hold two hundred people and the opening Mass was celebrated and sung by Fr O'Leary (Woolwich), Fr Ford (Dartford) who acted as deacon and Fr Brady (Crayford) who acted as sub deacon. At this time the Tridentine Mass was the norm. Others present included Mgr. Hallett, the Rector of St John's Seminary, Wonersh, my old seminary, and of course Bishop Amigo, as he was then, who preached. There was Exposition until the Evening Service. This was the first church in the diocese under the patronage of St John Vianney, otherwise known as the Cure D'Ars, the patron saint of parish priests. Among members of the congregation at this first mass were Count and Countess Rivarola from Eltham.
According to archive records, Bexleyheath was growing in size at this time with new houses being built. Before our church was built in 1933, many Catholics from Bexleyheath attended the 8.30 a.m. Mass at St Stephen's Welling, which at that time stood on the site of the Woolworth's store. The Parish Priest, Fr Clifford Nevatt, founded Junior and Secondary Junior and Secondary schools which were attended by children from Bexleyheath. Parishioners could catch the 8.30 a.m. tram from the Clock tower to Welling but were always ten minutes late for Mass. What has changed? Des Costello, whose father worked for the Bexley Tramways Service, says in his account of parish history that people wondered if the early Sunday morning tram was only run for the benefit of Catholics.
Once the church of St John Vianney was up and running it was served by the curates of Crayford who cycled to Mass. The people were fortunate to get a variety of homilies. Among the priests who served our parish were: Fr John Brady (1933-36); Fr Matthew Keane from Elphin Diocese (36-37); Fr Patrick Duffy from Clogher Diocese (37-41); Fr Laurence O'Grady from Ardagh (39-40); Fr Patrick Cox who was eventually Parish Priest of St Joseph's Guildford (1940); Fr Augustine Schultz (37-38) and Fr Arthur C Iggledon who was to be Vicar General of Arundel and Brighton Diocese (1942).
Fr Malone was certainly a very active man who oversaw the speedy development of the Crayford Parish. Once a year he held a party as a thank you to the parishioners of the four communities. There were no doubt other social activities in the parish. There was a Catholic Tennis Club which used a court in Danson park (1939-41). Other people will have other memories and information.
In 1936 Fr Malone was moved to St Boniface, Tooting and Fr Peter Paul King became Parish Priest of Crayford (1936-1944). At his Silver Jubilee of Priesthood, Mr Frederick Beattest represented our parish at the celebrations and presented Fr King with a gift of good wishes "ad multos annos" from the people of Bexleyheath.
At this time attendance at St John Vianney was increasing. In 1936 it was 198 but by 1938 it had increase to 257. It remained at about the same number for the next thirty years, although it topped the three hundred mark in 1949. Today the attendance is in the region of 320.
In 1935 Des Costello, who wrote down some of the history of the parish in a very interesting pamphlet, was thirteen. He was an altar server and was asked to play the organ one Sunday evening when the usual organist did not turn up. He could not have been too bad because he remained parish organist until he left the parish in 1981. St John Vianney's first choirmaster was Jim Eustace who came from Bexley. He was succeeded by Alfred Diment who came from Crayford and then by Tony Colan who was a local. Tony left to join the RAF but was sadly killed in an air raid over Germany.
In June 1942, Fr James Patrick Austin was appointed as the first Parish Priest of St John Vianney. The parish was handed over to him by Fr Peter Hughes, who was then the Parish Priest of Crayford. Margaret Roome thinks that Fr Austin was 38 when he began his ministry in Bexleyheath, but he seemed an old man to a small girl. He had a great rapport with children and a love of the Kent countryside. He would always put out a saucer of milk for the hedgehogs in the garden. At this time the Presbytery was at 58 Lion Road, an old dilapidated house. It is no longer there. Today the Priest's House is behind the new church.
Masses on Sunday were at 8.30 a.m. and 10.30 a.m. with catechism at 3pm. Sister Josephine Berchman organised classes for children attending non-catholic schools. She would read stories from "The Six O'Clock Saints" which brought the saints alive for the children. At 4pm there would be Benediction and afterwards people would meet outside for a social get together. There was a great community spirit, especially during the War, when people shared the sorrow of losing a loved one. Fr Austin was available for his parishioners day or night. Margaret Roome giggled when she saw Fr Austin's pyjama leg protruding from his trousers. He had no doubt overslept after a night disturbed by air raids. Others remember how Fr Austin worked with Canon Roberts, the Vicar of Christchurch. Ecumenism in action!
In 1948 Archbishop Amigo asked for a General Mission to be held in every parish and promised that he would try to visit the parish during the mission. This was an enormous task considering the size of the Diocese, which included Surrey and Sussex. At the age of 83, Archbishop Amigo tottered down the aisle during the Mission at Bexleyheath and spoke a few words before giving his blessing. In these times of hardship, heating and lighting were used very sparingly. Fr Austin was a great one for switching off lights! At early Mass in the winter, the server would have to break the ice on top of the water cruet. On his rare days off he would say a private Mass at 5.30 am served by Des Costello. On Sundays at 6.30 pm there was Rosary, Sermon and Benediction. No Evening Masses in those days! I am not sure when the time of Benediction changed from 4pm or were there two services?
Fortunately the land adjoining the Church belonged to the Church and it was Fr Austin's dearest wish to build a new Church. He started this project in 1946 with a Building Fund. He asked every working adult to contribute a shilling a week. Margaret Roome remembers him asking the children to forego their Saturday morning outing to the Regal Cinema (where Asda now stands) and put the sixpence in the collection. There was no response! There were lots of fund-raising activities including whist drives at Christchurch Hall. Many of these were organised by Edmund Ambrose. There was an annual Christmas Bazaar in the hall of the Conservative Club and during the war there was the usual Catholic activity, bingo, in the Silver Lounge at the corner of Bank Lane (now the Laughing Buddha restaurant). In 1947/48 there was a Dinner/Dance in Danson Mansion (recently restored to its former glory).
Fr Austin lived frugally. Sometimes the first collection amounted to just one pound. These were times of poverty and austerity. It was only due to the kindness of parishioners that Fr Austin did not starve. Due to his astute handling of the finances, his constant fund-raising and the hard work and generosity of the parishioners, the new church was completed in 1959. Fr Austin travelled around looking at churches trying to get some ideas for the church he wanted to build. In Rottingdean he discovered the Church of Our Lady Queen of Peace, which had been designed by Mr H Bingham Turner ARIBA. This was the church he was looking for and the same architect designed St John Vianney. He also designed a similar church at Billingshurst. Paul Gasche who was for many years MC (Master of Ceremonies) at St John Vianney and who contributed material for this little history has now, by a strange coincidence, moved to Billingshurst with this wife. The builder of the new church in Bexleyheath was a local man, Mr R B Butler. The exterior is of knapped flint. Some items from the old church were taken to the new, including the Sanctuary Lamp, Sacred Heart Statue and an old table which is now in the porch.
One of the final big celebrations in the old church was a Solemn High Mass to mark Fr Austin's Silver Jubilee of Priesthood in 1956. The last bride to be married in the old church was Tess Wallbank, who was very active in the parish, singing in the choir and arranging the flowers by the statues, until her recent death. The first baptism in the new church was of Anthony Coffey, son of Margaret who is still active in the Justice and Peace Group, as a reader, our Child Protection Officer and representative on the Deanery Pastoral Council and much more.
The Opening Mass in the new church was celebrated on 8th May 1959 by Fr Austin in the presence of Archbishop Cyril Cowderoy who had succeeded Archbishop Amigo. Pope John XXIII sent his blessing. Fr Carroll was deacon and Fr Edwards was sub deacon. There were over 400 people present. In fact the new church can hold 400. Mgr Peter Strand, the well loved former Parish Priest of Beckenham and Hayes, was the Archbishop's MC and Mr P Snelders was the MC at the altar. Also present was the builder Mr Butler and his son Alan and, of course, the Architect. The church took two years to complete. The original report mentions the new feature of a "cry room" now our Children's Chapel. It was a lovely sunny evening and many local clergy were present together with the Mayor. The total cost of the church was £25,000. I am not sure whether this figure also covered the Presbytery which was also built at the same time. It took many years to pay off the debt, but the church was finally consecrated on 28th May 1975 by Bishop Charles Henderson who had been a curate at Welling. Shortly before Bishop Henderson died in 2006, he told me that Fr Austin was very conscientious but also very scrupulous. He would stick to the letter of the law but sent people down to Fr Henderson if he could not help them.
Fr Austin retired from the parish in June 1973 and moved to Swanley. A special concert and reception was held for him at St Joseph's Convent, Bostall Heath (no longer there). We have the programme of this concert. He died on 4th January 1976. The Requiem Mass was at Our Lady of the Angels, Erith because the Franciscans had been kind to him in his final years. It is sad that the funeral was not celebrated in the lovely church he built. He is buried in Christchurch (Bexleyheath) Cemetery. It is said that his sister is still living at Frinton-on-Sea.
At this point our history gets a bit thinner. It is not that interesting things did not happen but the sources of information have dried up. When I read a history or even autobiography, it is the early years I find the most interesting since they are furthest away from my own experience. I have only been in Bexleyheath for the last four and a half years and it will take a long time to do the research that will fill a volume. I am working from the source material I have been given. There is surely more to come! If you find anything which is incorrect or if you can add your own memories please let me know.
Fr John Gleeson was appointed Parish Priest in 1973. In 1977 a large Christ the King crucifix was erected at the central arch of the Sanctuary. This was at the request of Fr Gleeson. Later on it was given to the sisters of Minster, I believe, when the Good Shepherd window was installed. More of that later. The same woodcarver, Mr Banks, a colleague of Paul Gasche, also made the Presidential Chair which is now positioned behind the main altar. It depicts the first miracle: the changing of water into wine at Cana. It is made of Honduran mahogany while the plaque and inlay is of lime wood. There are some verses from the one time Poet Laureate, Robert Bridges, on the back of the chair together with the carver's name and the date of 1979. Fr Gleeson was also responsible for the building of the new hall which was opened by Archbishop Michael Bowen on 8th January 1978. All new priests like to make some changes to the church building to make it more beautiful. They also have their own strengths and interests and this necessarily impinges on parish life. It is important, however, to respect the tradition of the parish and the people who form the parish community. There is always room for improvement and new ideas. I wonder if the Stations of the Cross also date from Fr Gleeson's time. The original ones from the old church were brought to the new church but the ones we have now are of a different shape and design. Parish history is not all about buildings and a list of important events and celebrations. It is rather the quiet pastoral work of priests and people that is more important. The effects of such work are rarely tangible, except for those who have been helped. Bishop Henderson told me that he was a distant relation of Fr Gleeson. He said that he was a very quiet man who lived frugally. He was a great builder and kept the buildings in good order.
In April 1985 Fr David Standley was appointed as Parish Priest. He had been a chaplain at Cambridge and at the University of Kent. I know him personally and he is at present Parish Priest of St Vincent de Paul, Clapham Common. Fr David brought life to all areas of parish life. He initiated the Parish Council, whose minutes I have been reading and the Ten Percent Group. It was decided to give ten per cent of the parish income to charity each year and this group decided which charities should benefit. From this time also dates the Parish Magazine, the Youth Club, the Senior Citizens Club and many more activities including jumbles sales and barbecues. Building on Fr Gleeson's parish census, Fr David initiated a parish survey. He also had a keen interest in the liturgy and music. His special gifts and interests were in the areas of Ecumenism, Justice and Peace, Disability and Spiritual Direction. It is true to say that Fr David concentrated more on people than on buildings; however, a fair amount of work took place during his six years here including the church ramp for the disabled.
In 1986 there was an exhibition organised by Fr David and Margaret Coffey to mark the 200th Anniversary of the birth of St John Vianney. There were three tableaux depicting life in an eighteenth century French church; there were photographs from reference books produced by Anne Coffey. The Exhibition opened on 3rd August 1986.
Fr Sam Abela, who was born in Malta, was appointed Parish Priest in 1991. He soon set about decorating both house and church. The new Good Shepherd stained glass window above the sanctuary was installed on 18th April 1994. It was at this time that the canopy and crucifix were removed. The first design for the window was rejected by the Diocese but I am not sure for what reason. Instead a second design was chosen. The Good Shepherd is a very appropriate subject because, as has been written before, St John Vianney is the patron saint of Parish Priests and a real Good Shepherd. The word for shepherd in Latin is "pastor" and St John Vianney is famous for his care of souls. Jesus said: "I am the Good Shepherd". At the same time the other attractive stained glass windows in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, in the Sanctuary and in the Children's Chapel were installed. The Children's Chapel is also called The Sacred Heart Chapel because it contains the statue of the Sacred Heart, as well as St Anthony and St Therese. The small statue of The Infant of Prague was given by the mother of parishioner Rosemary Hawes. The very lovely window depicting our Lady, which is near the organ, came from a church in Brighton that was being demolished. In 1995 The church was reordered and the Blessed Sacrament was moved to where Our Lady's Statue used to stand. A new statue of Our Lady was purchased and placed by the entrance to the Children's Chapel. The old one is now in the servers' sacristy. At the same time a new altar and ambo or lectern were built of stone. I am not sure whether the font was already in place or if it dates from the same time. I am also not sure of what stone the altar is made. Fr Frank Reid, who is at present Parish Priest of St Mary's Links Road, Tooting gave Fr Sam a relic of St John Vianney and this was placed inside the new altar. The house was decorated very tastefully but not luxuriously and I believe the garden owes much to his and Carmen's hard work. Certainly the gnomes and wishing well are from Fr Sam's time. Fr Sam was also very popular in the parish and was looked after by his cousin Carmen. Sadly he became ill with cancer and eventually returned to Malta where he died on the feast of The Triumph of the Cross, 14 September 2000. May he rest in peace.
In 2000 Fr Tim Buckley was appointed as Parish Priest. Again I knew Fr Tim because he had been a curate at Anerley many years ago and I first met him when he came to the parish centenary in 1979 when I was curate there. He was also the Chaplain to the Catholic Police Guild and I was for a time a branch chaplain. Fr Tim was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease soon after his arrival and four years here was marked by poor health. He is a man of great intelligence and a good preacher, although his quiet voice did not carry. The parish ticked over, but many of the activities ceased due to the illness of Fr Sam in his final years and now Fr Tim's illness. Once again Fr Tim was popular and did as much as he could. Everyone loved his smile and his gentle manner. If he did not do much building or maintenance work, he did not spend much money! The people of the parish kept life going here during Fr Tim's illness. Fr Tim retired to Ireland in August 2004.
This brings us up to September 2004 when Fr Michael Jones was appointed Parish Priest. I came here from St Bartholomew's Norbury where I had been for nearly twelve years. Since my arrival I have had to get involved in maintenance work and in spending some of that money saved. So far we have replaced the church boiler, bought a new photocopier, had the flat roofs of the church re-felted and have had house, church and hall completely rewired. The interior of the hall has been painted by lads on Community Service and we have recently installed a toilet for the disabled in the hall.
We decorated the interior of the Church for our Golden Jubilee (8 May 2009 - more about this later) and our fundraising activities are ongoing. A new stained glass window, commissioned by Joseph and Anthony Pereira, now both sadly deceased, was installed in 2006, in memory of Anthony's late wife, Josephine. The subject is the Holy Family in Egypt and it was designed and made by Delia Whitbread. On the social front the Justice and Peace Group have held quizzes plus St Patrick's and St Andrew's nights and we have had some very successful parish barbecues, thanks to the sunny weather and the hard work of the Social Committee. We restarted the Christmas Bazaar in 2005 but have decided on an Autumn Fayre from 2007 onwards. There seem to be too many bazaars at Christmas. We had a very enjoyable and well attended Fish & Chip Supper to kick off our Golden Jubilee Fund.
The real stars of a parish are, of course, the people who come week in and week out. Many have been coming here for fifty years or more. Their story is often overlooked in parish histories so come and tell me what you have been up to since 1933.
Fr Michael Jones
Fr Michael was ordained at St Bartholomew's Church, Norbury on 25th November 1978 having been trained at St John's Seminary, Wonersh and obtained a degree in English from Exeter University. After a short diaconate at St Anselm's Tooting Bec, his first parish as assistant was St Anthony of Padua, Anerley (also known as Penge). After three years there he moved to St Peter & Paul's, Mitcham. After six very happy years at Mitcham he moved to St George's Cathedral, Southwark where duties included chaplaincy to St Thomas' Hospital and to the Cathedral Choir. After five years, he returned to his home parish of Norbury as Parish Priest. In September 2004 he came to St John Vianney. Fr Michael supports Crystal Palace FC - very brave in a Charlton area. He also enjoys walking (arthritic knees permitting) which is useful since, because of poor eyesight, he can no longer drive. He likes music, travel, novels (now on CD), poetry, film and being with people. He is enjoying the new challenge of being a Bexleyheathen!
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