OLI Parish

The statue of The Blessed Virgin Mary above the altar

"Being in the image of God the human individual possesses the dignity of a person, who is not just something, but someone."
Catechism of the Catholic Church, Section 357

Parish History

In 1927 the building of the Kingston By-Pass opened up large areas for development as part of the 1930s housing boom. Through the vision, energy and determination of Fr E.J. Redding, a large plot of land fronting the Ewell Road was purchased. On this was to be built, firstly, the Catholic Hall, in which Mass was first celebrated in September 1934, and, later, a Primary School.

Despite great efforts in the late 1930s, Fr Reddings ambitions to build a school and a church had to be postponed. For some years after the war, shortages of money, labour and materials further delayed his plans.

However, through his persistence, work on the Primary School began. In 1953 it opened and it has recently celebrated its Golden Jubilee. In 1958, Our Lady Immaculate was completed at a cost of £60,000, of which £40,000 was raised throughout the district over a period of 22 years. Its architectural style characteristic of much ecclesiastical work at that time.

The first Mass was celebrated on 25th March, the Feast of the Annuciation, with a congregation of 1,200. Father Redding was the celebrant and he was assisted by his brother, Reverend RP Redding, Parish Deacon. The church was consecrated on 31st May 1963.

In the mid 1960s a small bungalow was erected in the presbytery garden behind the Old Chapel. This has since been converted into the Parish Parochial Centre which offers rooms for prayer meetings, counselling, committee work and so forth. It was considerably extended in 2000 in order to embrace a Pre-School. Also that year, new classrooms were added to our flourishing Primary School.

The care and maintenance of all these buildings is, of course, a major concern. For many years much of the work was, and still is, done by a small group of volunteer parishioners. However by the late 1960s, the scale of this work was far beyond the capacities of voluntary effort and in 1990 a Diocesan surveyor was called in to report on our most urgent requirements.

A plan was produced which the newly formed Parish Council decided , with some apprehension, to adopt. The estimated cost of repairs was £90,000 and a bank loan was arranged with the debt to be repaid by 2000.

In fact, the response of the parishioners and well-wishers was such that the debt was cleared by 1995. This recent experience in our parish development history demonstrates that the spirit that fired the pioneers of the early years remains a powerful force.

More vital than structures, of course, is the spiritual life of the parish. It nonetheless remains important that we pass on to future generations a church complex that provides a fitting centre for worship and other aspects of spiritual and community life.

Further Information.............

The Priests of the Parish

2020 Vision