Our Lady of the Rosary, Blackfen

Introduction

Our Lady of the Rosary, Blackfen, in the town of Blackfen within the Archdiocese of Southwark, was built in 1936–1937 on land adjacent to the former Heaslip’s farmhouse. The church was designed by E. J. Walters.

History

Originally it functioned as a Chapel-of-Ease within the parish of Saint Stephen’s, Welling. The church is built of brick and has a tall, unaisled nave and a distinctive steel roof structure.

Music and liturgy

The parish has a group of young people aged 18 and over who meet once a month. The parish runs a Lunch Club every Monday to Friday at the Parish Rosary Club, offering hot, freshly prepared meals. The parish has a group of the Union of Catholic Mothers that meets regularly for prayer, fellowship, and mutual support.

The parish has a dedicated group of women who arrange flowers for the church. The parish offers a programme of traditional meditations. The parish regularly organises national conferences and events for evangelisation.

Parish life

The parish organises an annual pilgrimage for young people to visit sites associated with young saints or Our Lady’s apparitions. The parish has a group of men and women who clean the church weekly.

The parish has a dedicated team of Altar Servers, open to children who have received their First Holy Communion. The parish has a Prayer Group that meets after Mass on a Wednesday. The parish organises a Pilgrim Walk through London's Historic Churches.

Sacraments and pastoral care

The parish baptises those who live within the parish as well as regular worshipping members of the community. Parents of children to be baptised must attend Infant Baptism preparation sessions at the parish. The parish has a young people's group for those aged 14 or over that meets once a month.