Saint Theodore of Canterbury, Hampton-on-Thames

Introduction

In 1923 the diocese bought Walnut Tree Cottage in Station Road, and Father Harold Burton was the first priest to live there, setting up a chapel for daily Mass.

History

The new permanent church was finished in November 1986, after the first elected Parish Council was formed in 1975. In 1927 a temporary building, originally a site office for the builders of Wembley Stadium, was bought for £50 and re-erected on concrete foundations at the Station Road site.

Music and liturgy

Children aged four to six are invited to join Sunday catechists in the parish centre for their own service of prayer before the offertory of the Mass.

Parish life

The women's fellowship meets socially, engages speakers, holds an annual dinner, and raises funds for street children of Colombia. The parish has a long and established record of supporting CAFOD's work in developing countries.

St James School is the parish's designated parish school. The catechetical programme for First Holy Communion and Confirmation is devised and coordinated by a fully qualified team of catechists under the direction of the Parish Priest.

Sacraments and pastoral care

The Bishop or his delegate normally administers Confirmation in the summer. Couples wishing to marry here or elsewhere must notify the parish priest at least 6 months before the wedding date. The Anointing of the Sick is available on request, especially before surgery or treatment, and hospital patients can ask for the R.C. Chaplain to visit. Adults wishing to enquire about the Catholic Faith should speak to the parish priest.

Visiting

The parish organises a pilgrimage to Lourdes with the Westminster Diocese, including flights, coach transfers, hotel accommodation, and guided visits. Fortnightly Bible Study sessions are held at Saint Theodore of Canterbury, with coffee in the hall beforehand.