Church of Most Sacred Heart, Ruislip

Introduction

In June 1918 Miss Warrender provided the purchase price and offered to pay for the church, assist with furnishing it and provide a presbytery.

History

The current site was purchased with space for a hall and club rooms beside the church, and the sale of the High Street church left a surplus of £12,500.

Architecture and furnishings

The church is simple in plan with unbroken views of the high altar from all corners. The exterior is plain, in golden-brown brick with red quoins, relieved by a centrally-placed cross in relief and symbols of the four evangelists carved in stone, with a copper roof. A star-spangled tester above the altar and a hanging crucifix add interest, with shadows making the crucifix appear between two other crosses. Statues of the Sacred Heart, Our Lady and St Joseph, the high altar and font were brought from the old church.

The calvary from the High Street church was fixed to the wall on the garden side of the new church, and in May 1998 was moved above the main door. Hugh Warrender's bell was taken from the old belfry and hung upon the chimney at the back of the present church, where it still hangs silently. The Ruislip-Northwood Urban District Council said a bye-law forbade ringing new bells, but conceded the bell was not new and could continue to be rung; the electric mechanism failed and the bell has scarcely ever been rung.

The St Joseph's Colonnade was added to the church in 1984. Stained glass windows were added above the front doors of the church in 2014.

Parish life

The parish has run three children's youth groups since 2015. The youth club includes social justice projects and fundraising, monthly trips, and an annual trip to Thorpe Park. The youth club has a young ambassador scheme for those over 16 and accepts teenagers over 14 for Duke of Edinburgh volunteering.

The Ruislip Knights of St Columba, chartered on 13 March 1939, covers the parishes of Most Sacred Heart, St Thomas More's, St Matthew's and St Gregory's. The Jubilee Trust is a registered charity set up in 1982 to mark the Diamond Jubilee of the Parish. The Jubilee Trust has supported the Marian Homes in St Lucia since 1982.

The parish takes part in the Lourdes pilgrimage, where young adults serve as RedCaps and in other roles. Two parish RedCaps, together with their Lourdes team, received the Caritas Volunteer of the Year Group Award in July 2022.

Sacraments and pastoral care

The parish provides preparation for all of the sacraments. Attendance at a baptism class is mandatory before a baptism can take place. The Jubilee Trust aims to raise money within the parish to help alleviate poverty or support those living with infirmity through age or sickness.