Our Lady Queen of Apostles

Whispers of stained glass… that’s how I would describe Our Lady Queen of Apostles. It’s not just a building, but a story whispered through color and light. Our Lady Queen of Apostles sits quietly in Heston, between The Green and Heston Road. Across the street, Rosary Catholic Primary School stands as a testament to the church’s connection with the community. This church isn’t ancient. It doesn’t boast centuries of history. Instead, it represents a more recent chapter of faith, built in the early 1960s. The parish itself is older, established in 1928 by the White Fathers. They built a smaller church in 1929, but the burgeoning Catholic community soon outgrew it. This newer Our Lady Queen of Apostles rose on land once occupied by the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa. The foundation stone was laid in 1963, and by 1964, the church opened its doors, designed by the same architects who crafted St. Francis de Sales Church in nearby Hampton Hill. The cost? A cool £42,000, a considerable sum back then. The church can hold 450 to 500 souls, offering a spacious sanctuary. Its consecration followed a decade later, in 1974. Now, look closely at those windows. They’re not just pretty pictures. They are works of art, dalle de verre glass creations by Pierre Fourmaintraux. The vibrant hues tell stories of faith, hope, and the apostles. And there’s another hidden gem within these walls: a 19th-century organ, rescued from a redundant chapel in Darwen, Lancashire, now filling this space with its rich tones. The Vocationist Fathers took over the parish in 2017. They continue to nurture the community’s spiritual life. Our Lady Queen of Apostles isn’t just a church. It is a living testament to the growth and evolution of faith in Heston. It’s a place where history whispers through stained glass, and where the community gathers, united in their beliefs.