Remember Plaistow’s St Philip and St James’ Church. It stands as a testament to faith and resilience. The story of St Philip and St James’ Church begins with two separate churches. These churches later merged forming a single parish.
St Philip’s began as a small mission church. St Mary’s Church built it on Whitwell Road in 1860. The Society of Divine Compassion took it over in 1894. Tragedy struck in 1941. The London Blitz destroyed St Philip’s. Undeterred, the community laid a new foundation stone in 1954.
From 1876 to 1882 the Guild of St Alban the Martyr worked closely with St Philip’s Church. This Anglo-Catholic settlement acted as a mission of St Andrew’s Plaistow.
Now let’s turn to St James’. It started as an iron building around 1870. This served a conventional district in Forest Gate. In 1881 St James’ became a parish. It was formed from parts of Emmanuel Church, St John’s and All Saints.
In 1955 St Philip’s and St James’ joined together. They became the joint parish of St Philip and St James. Later this parish became part of the Parish of the Divine Compassion. Three other parishes joined them. These were St Mary’s, St Matthias’ and St Martin’s in Plaistow and Canning Town.
Today St Philip and St James’ Church stands as a symbol. It represents the enduring spirit of its community. It is a place where different histories converge. The church is now part of a larger parish family. It continues to serve the people of Plaistow and Canning Town. It offers solace, community and a shared sense of purpose.
The church’s journey reflects the history of London itself. From its humble beginnings as separate mission churches to its role within the Parish of the Divine Compassion, St Philip and St James’ Church has adapted and thrived. It has grown stronger. It is a place of worship and a testament to the power of unity and faith in the face of adversity. Remember the story of St Philip and St James’ Church. It is more than just a building. It is a living story of community, resilience and faith.