Church of Our Lady of the Assumption, Tooting Links Road

Introduction

The Church of Our Lady of the Assumption in Tooting was founded on a site given in 1908 by Miss Frances Elizabeth Ellis, a benefactress of many 'Ellis Churches'.

History

During the Second World War a public air-raid shelter stood on the site. The new Church was completed for the Year of the Eucharist, which ended in 2005. Under the canon at Saint Boniface, Tooting, a wooden Church replaced the Scout Hut in which Mass was celebrated and a new Parish was formed. The wooden structure was severely damaged in the Hurricane of 1987 and the Foundation Stone of the new Church was laid during the Marian Year which ended in 1988.

Architecture and furnishings

The altar contains a relic of Saint Thomas of Canterbury, who was educated at Merton Priory around 1128. The altar also contains a relic from the body of the martyred priest Saint John Southworth, who was martyred at Tyburn in 1654. On the stone cross on the front of the altar can still be seen the 12th-century mason's mark. In front of Our Lady's statue is a section of Purbeck marble pillar which came from either the Priory Church or the Chapter House.

The Sacred Host is in Thassos White Marble from Greece, the Chalice is in Limestone (called Antique Gold) from Jerusalem, and the stone itself is Black Granite from India. The stonework in the new Church was created by two parishioners, Mr James Rudden and Mr Thomas Hennigan, using stone from the 12th-century Augustinian Merton Priory.

Parish life

The parish received a grant from the National Lottery Community Fund for a Kitchen Ceiling Repair Project in its Community Hall. The parish held three meetings before Christmas 2021 to consider the synod themes of Communion, Participation, and Mission.

The parish priest visits the sick and housebound upon request, with arrangements made through him. The repository is open after all weekend Masses for the sale of cards and gifts.