Catholic Church of the Holy Family, Dagenham

Is this place always so peaceful? The Catholic Church of the Holy Family, Dagenham has an air of tranquility. You might not guess it was once at the heart of a bustling new community. The Catholic Church of the Holy Family, Dagenham came into being in 1931. Bishop Doubleday saw the growing Catholic population in Dagenham and sent Father John Petit to establish a new parish. Father Petit, a man of action who would later become a Bishop himself, wasted no time. He found a humble council house on Porters Avenue and began to say Mass. Every Sunday, he would gather the faithful in any available hall. In 1932, Father Vincent Dutton took over the mission. He secured a rather unusual location for Mass: St. George’s Clinic. The clinic served as their spiritual home until the completion of their church in 1934. Imagine children attending catechism classes right after Mass, their young voices filling the clinic with life. In May 1932, a group of these children celebrated their First Holy Communion in the clinic’s hall. A breakfast followed at the home of their dedicated catechists. The construction of the church and presbytery was made possible by a generous anonymous donation. Thanks to this gift and Father Dutton’s leadership, the Catholic Church of the Holy Family, Dagenham opened its doors in 1934. The Catholic Church of the Holy Family, Dagenham stands as a testament to the faith and dedication of those early parishioners. Their story is etched in the very fabric of this building.