Did you know that St Edward the Confessor Catholic Church in Golders Green wasn’t always the magnificent building we see today? Its story begins long before its construction in 1914-15. In 1908 Father William Bendon arrived in Golders Green. He served as chaplain to the Carmelite Sisters. Their chapel became a temporary mass center for the growing Catholic community. The land for the new church was acquired in 1909. It was a site previously owned by St Edward the Confessor. It had been given to the Benedictines for religious purposes. This made the dedication to St Edward the Confessor entirely fitting.
The first structures were a presbytery and a temporary chapel. This was soon replaced by St Edward’s Hall in 1911. This hall served as both a parish hall and a temporary church. It cost £1000 and seated 300 people. The present church a substantial brick building is in the Perpendicular Gothic style. It is a robust and well-detailed example of C15 English medieval revival architecture. It has East Anglian character dominated by a square lantern-tower. The design is by Arthur Young a well-regarded ecclesiastical architect. Cardinal Bourne laid the foundation stone on March 25 1914.
Construction continued through the First World War. Older labourers built the church. The opening ceremony scheduled for September 8 1915 was postponed. A Zeppelin raid over Golders Green that evening caused the delay. The church finally opened on October 13 1915. This was the Feast Day of St Edward the Confessor. Father Bendon died in 1920 and was initially buried in Finchley cemetery. He was later reinterred outside the church’s south wall. An inscribed stone marks his final resting place. The church was consecrated by Bishop Butt in 1930.
The interior is full of noteworthy features. The sanctuary has a fine Gothic reredos completed with statuary by Philip Lindsey Clarke. The reredos depicts English saints. The interior features fine timber carved detailing and stone carving by Joseph Armitage. The stained glass in the east Memorial window is by R L Hendra and GF Harpes. This was installed in 1947. It is a thanksgiving memorial after the war. It commemorates parishioner Captain Michael Allmand VC. The church has undergone several renovations and restorations. A fire in the 1960s caused significant damage. The sanctuary was reordered in the 1970s and again in 1997. St Edward’s Shrine was installed in 1997. New stone portrait corbels were added in 2008. These were carved by Geraint Davies and John Dasgupta. They feature notable members of the clergy.
St Edward the Confessor Catholic Church stands as a testament to faith. It also showcases the enduring craftsmanship of its builders. This impressive building continues to serve the community. It represents a vibrant history spanning over a century. It’s a place where the past meets the present. The spirit of St Edward the Confessor lives on in this remarkable building.