Didn’t St Vincent de Paul in Cambridge have quite the journey? This isn’t just another church. This is St Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. Its story is quite unique and reflects the resourcefulness of the community.
Let’s step back in time. Imagine World War One. The building that houses St Vincent de Paul started as a temporary ward. It was part of the First Eastern General Hospital on Newmarket Road in Cambridge.
After the war ended many surplus buildings were available. A local Catholic benefactor Baron Anatole Von Hügel bought this prefabricated building for £250. That was a significant sum in those days.
In 1920, the building was moved. It found a new home in the garden of the Church of Our Lady and the English Martyrs. It was renamed Houghton Hall after St John Houghton. It served as a clubroom for Catholic working men. It also became a hall for parish organizations.
Fast forward to 1939. A new parish hall and school buildings were erected at OLEM. Houghton Hall was relocated again. This time it went to High Street in Chesterton. It became the first church of St Laurence.
The story doesn’t end there. In 1958 a new St Laurence’s church opened on Milton Road. The old building was moved once more. It crossed the river and was re-erected on Ditton Lane. Finally it became the church of St Vincent de Paul.
Think about that for a moment. This building has been a hospital ward, a clubroom, and two different churches. It truly has lived many lives.
In the 1980s, repairs and internal rearrangements occurred. The architect Julian Limentani oversaw the work. Volunteers have continued to carry out repairs recently. The church is currently served from OLEM.
St Vincent de Paul is a rectangular prefabricated building. It has a shallow pitched roof clad in corrugated iron. A small porch projects from the front gable end. Simple rectangular windows flank the porch. Each side wall features four small buttress-like projections. These are the uprights of the main frame. Windows sit close to each buttress. All windows have external timber shutters.
The gable end away from the road has a small lean-to. It possibly houses a sacristy. Inside, timber boards line the walls. An A-frame roof covers the space. The altar is placed in the center of one of the long sides.
So next time you pass by St Vincent de Paul remember its incredible journey. From a hospital ward to a cherished church. It stands as a testament to community spirit. It is a symbol of adaptability. It is a beacon of faith in Cambridge.