St John Vianney, Clayhall

Introduction

St John Vianney in Clayhall, in the Diocese of Brentwood, began with a temporary chapel served from Barkingside that opened in 1944. The parish was erected on 27 July 1967.

History

Donald Plaskett Marshall designed the church, and Messrs J. Leary & Sons of Stratford built it. The church was first used for Mass on Christmas Day 1966. For the consecration in 1983, Austin Winkley of Williams & Winkley undertook a reordering. The sculptor for the new limestone furnishings was David John, the stonemasons Axtell Perry Symm, and the builders Messrs Duncan & Duncan. The altar was moved into the crossing, the former east transept arm became a weekday chapel, and a narthex was inserted below the gallery.

Architecture and furnishings

The organ started life in 1937 at an entertainment organ in a cinema in Nuneaton. In 1969, the Compton organ was purchased from the Ritz cinema in Nuneaton. The Southern District of the Cinema Organ Society holds concerts at the church and maintains the organ.

Parish life

The parish supports the Redbridge Food Bank by collecting long-life products at the church. The parish's catechism classes prepare the young and adults for baptism, first holy communion and Confirmation. Altar servers assist the priest during Mass and cover all weekend Masses and special services, especially at Easter and Christmas. Altar servers renew their pledge on St Stephen's Day each year, when cords and medals are awarded for length of service.

A group of Weeders and Pruners meets for gardening and other services followed by refreshments. The repository in the church narthex stocks religious items and is open for parishioners after each weekend Mass and on demand. A scripture reading ministry promotes reading the Bible over periods of 100 days, 180 days, or a year.

The parish holds an annual BBQ for the feast day celebrations of St John Vianney. The church has access for physically disabled and a loop system for hearing aid users.