Welcome to the parish of English Martyrs, Roman Catholic church, Hornchurch. This is a small parish in the Diocese of Brentwood, Essex founded in 1955.
The Forty Martyrs of England and Wales are a group of Catholic, lay and religious, men and women, executed between 1535 and 1679 for treason and related offences under various laws enacted by Parliament during the English Reformation.
The Forty Martyrs of England and Wales are a group of Catholic, lay and religious, men and women, executed between 1535 and 1679 for treason and related offences under various laws enacted by Parliament during the English Reformation.
A modest church of 1954-5 with stained glass by Goddard & Gibbs of 1981.
The church was built in 1954-5 from designs by David Rodney Burles of Burles, Newton & Partners of Southend-on-Sea. The builders were Messrs H. W. Wilson Ltd of South Ockendon. Together with the contemporary presbytery, the cost of the buildings was £11,500. The church was opened on 26 June 1955; the parish was established in the following month. In 1981 several stained glass windows by Goddard & Gibbs were installed. In the late 1990s the church was reordered and in In 2005, the church was solemnly blessed.
Description
The church is built in brick laid in Flemish bond, with creased tiles in the lintels. The pitched roof is covered in pantiles and has two dormers at the east. The plan is longitudinal, with a sacristy at the northeast and a Lady Chapel at the southeast. Beside the entrance at the southwest is a slim bellcote incorporating a chimney. The niche beside the entrance holds a statue of the Virgin and Child.
Opposite the entrance porch are the gallery stairs with confessional below. On the gallery front hangs a crucifix of Christ the Eternal High Priest. The nave has an elliptical plastered ceiling. The three groups of three windows each on the north side have abstract stained glass in green and yellow tones. The south side has two groups of four windows, with blue and purple colours and the inscriptions ‘St Thomas More’ and ‘St John Fisher’. The stained glass windows were installed in 1981 by Goddard & Gibbs. The two dormer windows, with further abstract stained glass, are not symmetrical, with that on the north side being placed further east.
The chancel is narrower than the nave, with stained glass on a Creation theme in the lateral windows. Ambo and altar are of stone and presumably date from the 1990s reordering. On either side are statues of St Thomas More and St John Fisher. To the south of the sanctuary is the painted octagonal stone font. Three arches lead into the Blessed Sacrament chapel. This used to be the Lady Chapel, and the stained glass window features Marian symbols. The tabernacle stands on a simple canopied stand. There are also statues of the Virgin and the Child and St Joseph.
The church was built in 1954-5 from designs by David Rodney Burles of Burles, Newton & Partners of Southend-on-Sea. The builders were Messrs H. W. Wilson Ltd of South Ockendon. Together with the contemporary presbytery, the cost of the buildings was £11,500. The church was opened on 26 June 1955; the parish was established in the following month. In 1981 several stained glass windows by Goddard & Gibbs were installed. In the late 1990s the church was reordered and in In 2005, the church was solemnly blessed.
Description
The church is built in brick laid in Flemish bond, with creased tiles in the lintels. The pitched roof is covered in pantiles and has two dormers at the east. The plan is longitudinal, with a sacristy at the northeast and a Lady Chapel at the southeast. Beside the entrance at the southwest is a slim bellcote incorporating a chimney. The niche beside the entrance holds a statue of the Virgin and Child.
Opposite the entrance porch are the gallery stairs with confessional below. On the gallery front hangs a crucifix of Christ the Eternal High Priest. The nave has an elliptical plastered ceiling. The three groups of three windows each on the north side have abstract stained glass in green and yellow tones. The south side has two groups of four windows, with blue and purple colours and the inscriptions ‘St Thomas More’ and ‘St John Fisher’. The stained glass windows were installed in 1981 by Goddard & Gibbs. The two dormer windows, with further abstract stained glass, are not symmetrical, with that on the north side being placed further east.
The chancel is narrower than the nave, with stained glass on a Creation theme in the lateral windows. Ambo and altar are of stone and presumably date from the 1990s reordering. On either side are statues of St Thomas More and St John Fisher. To the south of the sanctuary is the painted octagonal stone font. Three arches lead into the Blessed Sacrament chapel. This used to be the Lady Chapel, and the stained glass window features Marian symbols. The tabernacle stands on a simple canopied stand. There are also statues of the Virgin and the Child and St Joseph.
Parish Priest
Fr Linu Thankachan
Tel: 01708 507020
Email: [email protected]
Bishop of Brentwood
The Rt. Revd. Alan Williams
Parish Secretary - Daphne Thomas
(01708 507020)
Mon, Tues, Thurs & Fri (11am-2pm)
Sacraments:
Baptism
For Catholics, the Sacrament of Baptism is the first step in a lifelong journey of commitment and discipleship. Whether we are baptised as infants or adults, Baptism is the Church’s way of celebrating and enacting the embrace of God.
Eucharist
Catholics believe the Eucharist, or Communion, is both a sacrifice and a meal. We believe in the real presence of Jesus, who died for our sins. As we receive Christ’s Body and Blood, we also are nourished spiritually and brought closer to God.
Reconciliation
The Catholic Sacrament of Reconciliation (also known as Penance, or Penance and Reconciliation) has three elements: conversion, confession and celebration. In it we find God’s unconditional forgiveness; as a result we are called to forgive others.
Confirmation
Confirmation is a Catholic Sacrament of mature Christian commitment and a deepening of baptismal gifts. It is one of the three Sacraments of Initiation for Catholics. It is most often associated with the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Marriage
For Catholics, the Sacrament of Marriage, or Holy Matrimony, is a public sign that one gives oneself totally to this other person. It is also a public statement about God: the loving union of husband and wife speaks of family values and also God’s values.
Holy Orders
In the Sacrament of Holy Orders, or Ordination, the priest being ordained vows to lead other Catholics by bringing them the sacraments (especially the Eucharist), by proclaiming the Gospel, and by providing other means to holiness.
Anointing of the Sick
The Catholic Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, formerly known as Last Rites or Extreme Unction, is a ritual of healing appropriate not only for physical but also for mental and spiritual sickness.
If you are new to the parish please fill out one of our welcome cards at the rear of the church and place them through the presbytery door so we can add you and your family to our parish database.
Schools:
St Joseph's Primary School
Sacred Heart of Mary Girls' School
The Campion School
Baptism
For Catholics, the Sacrament of Baptism is the first step in a lifelong journey of commitment and discipleship. Whether we are baptised as infants or adults, Baptism is the Church’s way of celebrating and enacting the embrace of God.
Eucharist
Catholics believe the Eucharist, or Communion, is both a sacrifice and a meal. We believe in the real presence of Jesus, who died for our sins. As we receive Christ’s Body and Blood, we also are nourished spiritually and brought closer to God.
Reconciliation
The Catholic Sacrament of Reconciliation (also known as Penance, or Penance and Reconciliation) has three elements: conversion, confession and celebration. In it we find God’s unconditional forgiveness; as a result we are called to forgive others.
Confirmation
Confirmation is a Catholic Sacrament of mature Christian commitment and a deepening of baptismal gifts. It is one of the three Sacraments of Initiation for Catholics. It is most often associated with the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Marriage
For Catholics, the Sacrament of Marriage, or Holy Matrimony, is a public sign that one gives oneself totally to this other person. It is also a public statement about God: the loving union of husband and wife speaks of family values and also God’s values.
Holy Orders
In the Sacrament of Holy Orders, or Ordination, the priest being ordained vows to lead other Catholics by bringing them the sacraments (especially the Eucharist), by proclaiming the Gospel, and by providing other means to holiness.
Anointing of the Sick
The Catholic Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, formerly known as Last Rites or Extreme Unction, is a ritual of healing appropriate not only for physical but also for mental and spiritual sickness.
If you are new to the parish please fill out one of our welcome cards at the rear of the church and place them through the presbytery door so we can add you and your family to our parish database.
Schools:
St Joseph's Primary School
Sacred Heart of Mary Girls' School
The Campion School
