St John Fisher & St Thomas More. Eltham, London. UK - Roman Catholic Churches on Waymarking.com

In the 1930's Eltham was growing in size, and the area desperately needed a new church. Built of concrete with hardly any windows, this was a new style of church. The following is taken from the Catholic Herald, dated 31 July 1936. It Reads:

"A new Catholic church, dedicated to St. Thomas More and St. John Fisher, was opened at Eltham, S.E., on Saturday, when the Bishop of Southwark, Dr. Peter Amigo, was present at Solemn High Mass.

The new church is situated midway between two sites associated with the martyrs. It is between Eltham Palace, which St. Thomas More visited as Lord Chancellor, and Shooters Hill, where St. John Fisher stayed on his last night before entering London to be imprisoned in the Tower.

When they were canonised last year Miss E. M. Le Mottee of Crowborough, Sussex, decided to build a church to their memory as a thankoffering for many benefits she had received through their intercession. Fr. Leo Montgomery, C.R.L., of Eltham, who badly needed a church to serve a newly built-up area prayed to the Martyrs for a church, and the fact that he was able to get in touch with Miss Le Mottee he attributes to their intercession.

Architecturally, the church, which has cost £7,000, has many interesting points. It is constructed of concrete. From the outside there appear to be very few windows. This is because the building is lighted through the roof, which has circular holes covered with glass. Although over a hundred feet in length, the church is entirely free from pillars. The simple form of the primitive Christian basilica has been devised by modern scientific construction on the girder bridge principle to provide free uninterrupted space. The architect, Mr. J. O'Hanlon Hughes, F.R.I.B.A., says that there is hardly anything in the church that has not been devised in a new manner and that it is probably the first Catholic Church to be designed from a functional rather than a stylistic motive.

In address at the opening service, Bishop Amigo referred to the histories of the two Blessed Martyrs to whom the church is dedicated. In their young days, he said, they did not dream that England would forsake its loyalty to the Catholic faith or that a Catholic sovereign would defy the Vicar of Christ. But when this came about they were ready to die for their faith. So should catholics to-day be ready to defend and make sacrifices for their faith."

Access to the church is only during Mass times. The co-ordinates posted are for the gate at the road. These gates are locked when not in use. I grew up in this church and it is well worth a visit if you do attend.

Type of Church: Church Status of Building: Actively in use for worship Archdiocese: Southwark Diocese: Southwark Address/Location: Arbroath Road Eltham, London United Kingdom SE9 6RR Relvant Web Site: [Web Link] Date of organization: Not listed Date of building construction: Not listed Dominant Architectural Style: Not listed Associated Shrines, Art, etc.: Not listed

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Date Logged Log User Rating   06/23/2013 Master Mariner visited it