SS Peter and Paul,, Mitcham

Introduction

SS Peter and Paul in Mitcham opened its present church on 2nd July 1889 on land given by Winifred Simpson. The church was significantly enlarged in 1938 by building the present sanctuary and Our Lady’s chapel. In 1989, for the Centenary of the present church building, a new door was opened and a porch was built at the sanctuary end.

History

From at least 1291 the Augustinian Canons of the priory of St Mary Overie, Southwark, served the local population from the parish church in Church Road. From 1535, when the Priory was dissolved at the Reformation, until 1853, there was no recognised Roman Catholic church in Mitcham. Mitcham became a Mass Centre in 1853 when William Simpson (Jr) and his wife Winifred invited the chaplain of the Faithful Virgin Convent, Upper Norwood, to ride over to their house each Sunday to celebrate Mass. From early in 1853 regular Sunday Mass was offered in the drawing room of William and Winifred’s home, Elm Lodge.

In 1862 a small brick chapel and a wooden school-room were erected at William Simpsons’s expense on land owned by him and facing the Cricket Green. Planning Permission was received in March 2017 to enable a large new hall to be built.

Architecture and furnishings

The church as built in 1889 had its rear wall in line with the present sanctuary arch and steps, and the altar was set against this wall. A high quality Walker electric powered pipe organ was fitted in the choir loft in 1953, replacing the old manual harmonium. In the late 1960s, consequential to the changes in the liturgy brought in by the Second Vatican Council (1967), the altar was completely rebuilt as the current free-standing stone structure and the pulpit was dismantled. Some of the stone from the dismantled pulpit was used to make the present stone lectern and its surround.

An altar rail defined the sanctuary, positioned in line with the second window down the church. The Centenary Porch serves as the usual weekday entrance when Mass is not being celebrated.

Parish life

Lay people in the parish visit anyone who requests prayer and spiritual support. The parish runs a First Holy Communion programme for children in school year 3 and above, involving parents, the school and the church.

A retreat is organised for confirmation candidates, for example to the Kairos Centre. An RCIA course is provided for those wishing to enter the Catholic Church, from September each year.