Our Lady of Grace and St Teresa of Avila, Chingford

Introduction

The foundation stone for Our Lady of Grace and St Teresa of Avila in Chingford was laid on 4 October 1930.

Architecture and furnishings

The church is built of brown brick in Sussex bond with Ketton stone dressings, an oak timber frame and a tiled roof, in Gothic Revival style. The west tower has two stages and is topped by a crenellated parapet. The nave's west front features a large traceried window and a central arched door case with sidelights. A large oak framed south porch displays patterned curved braces and carved bargeboards.

The chancel includes gabled transept chapels with large arched windows of triple ogees and a rose window at the east end. Inside, a Ketton stone arcade rests on octagonal columns. The roof, made of Austrian oak, combines arched braces and a crownpost on elaborately carved corbels. The west choir gallery is adorned with limed and gilded linenfold panelling, and its staircase has finely carved animals on newel posts and the gallery front.

The nave floor is of unglazed ceramic tiles, while the chancel and chapels have green and white marble flooring. The Lady Chapel contains a contemporary stained glass window and an altar with a painted reredos. The Sacred Heart Chapel has a moulded stone pedestal for the figure of Christ and a Crown of Thorns stained glass cinquefoil window. The High Altar features an imposing stone reredos and elaborate limed and gilded oak panelling.

Parish life

The parish serves a Catholic population of around three thousand in North Chingford. The parish produces publications such as newsletters and calendars.