Our Lady of Lourdes, Wanstead

A mass centre was opened in Wanstead in 1910 by the parish priest of Walthamstow. In 1918 it was transferred to the hall of the newly opened St. Joseph's convent school, Cambridge Park. Wanstead became a separate parish in 1919, and the church was opened in 1928, and completed in 1934–39. The first parish priest, Canon Basil Booker, was appointed on 4 August 1919. The second parish priest, Canon James Hemming, was appointed in 1952. In 1970, a new parish priest was appointed, Mgr (Canon) Christopher Creede VG. After 30 years as parish priest, Mgr Creede retired on the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes 11 February 2000 and Fr (Canon) Patrick Sammon arrived to become the fourth parish priest. One…

The church was built in the Neo-Gothic style. The church exterior is of red brick with cream stone edgings. Inside, the plan is that of a nave and two aisles on either side. At the back, over the entrance, there is the choir balcony, on which a new organ has been constructed. The interior walls are simply whitewashed, excluding the stonework. Behind the altar is an elaborate stone gothic altarpiece. Two stained glass windows are on the left aisle side chapel and were installed as part of the major reordering and restoration project of the church including the relocation of the tabernacle and a new stone Altar The church has a large crucifix stationed above the new Altar. In 2019 new…