Our Lady Help of Christians and St Helen, Westcliff-on-Sea

Introduction

Our Lady Help of Christians and St Helen in Westcliff-on-Sea was designed in 1868-9 by Thomas Goodman of Southend. The church is the oldest Catholic church in south Essex in modern times, originally serving a large mission territory.

History

A Catholic mission at Southend was established by the Revd John Moore in 1862. The site and much of the initial building cost were paid for by Miss (later Countess) Helen Tasker, who laid the foundation stone on 8 October 1868. The south aisle was added in 1899-1900, with Alderman Tolhurst as principal benefactor, and the north aisle and enlarged sacristy in 1902-03, under the supervision of Canon AJC Scoles. The church was consecrated by Bishop Ward, first Bishop of Brentwood, on 12 August 1919.

In 1952-3 much new stained glass by the Hardman firm was added. The church was built at a cost of £1,700, and the parish priest Father John Moore, who arrived in Southend in 1862 aged 56 and served for 28 years, worked to raise funds. The parish hall was added in 1911, from designs by A. Berry. In 1867 an heiress purchased a parcel of land in Milton Road for the church and provided £1000 so building works could commence.

In October 1869 the new church, designed by local architect Mr Goodman, was opened, although just the Sanctuary and central Nave, with temporary walls infilling the arches at either side. The church was solemnly blessed and opened by Cardinal Manning on 26th October 1869. Helen Tasker was made a Countess of the Holy Roman or Pontifical Estates by Pope Pius IX, and died at Middleton Hall on 3rd January 1888.

Architecture and furnishings

The church has a nave with north and south aisles, southwest porch, shallow transepts, chancel flanked by chapels, with sacristy to the north connecting with the presbytery. The nave arcades are of four bays with pointed chamfered arches carried on stout stone piers, with elaborate capitals carved by Thomas Earp. The sanctuary has a ribbed pointed timber ceiling and wide arches to the side chapels, with richly carved capitals. The alabaster altar rails of 1949 are retained in the sanctuary and the side chapels, minus their gates.

The organ gallery at the west end is a delicate Gothic oak structure of 1906. The church has a timber nave roof with arch braces to the collars with boarding above, and the lean-to aisle roofs are concealed by plaster ceilings. The church is in Early English Gothic style, designed 1868-9 by Thomas Goodman of Southend, with additions of 1899-1903 by A J C Scoles. The parish offers confessions in Malayalam and Filipino.

Parish life

The parish has an African Community that meets in the Small Hall. The parish has a group of catechists for the First Holy Communion programme. The parish has a group of volunteer cleaners coordinated through a group chat. The parish has a Finance Council that volunteers with finance and administration experience are invited to join.

The parish has a bereavement group that parishioners consider very important and would like more support for. The parish has a group of volunteer counters who count the Sunday collection. The parish has a Pre-Cana Seminar for marriage preparation.

Visiting

The parish runs a Church Shop offering prayer aids, liturgical materials, religious statues and images. The religious store at Our Lady and Saint Helen provides prayer aids, liturgical materials, religious statues, and images.