St. Joseph's, Bromley

Introduction

St Joseph's Church in Bromley is a neo-Romanesque brick church designed by Edward Goldie and built in 1912. The church was consecrated on 28 April 1914.

History

Monsignor Goddard established the mission in Bromley in December 1886 and celebrated the first recorded Roman Catholic Mass in Bromley on Christmas Day 1886. In 1912, work on the new church began from Edward Goldie's designs, with the Bishop of Southwark laying the foundation stone on 8 July; the church was completed five months later and opened by Bishop Amigo on 13 December. In 1919 a pulpit at St Joseph's church was erected as a memorial to parishioners who died in the First World War; it has since been removed. In 1926 several stained glass windows were installed at St Joseph's church; the following year stained-glass windows were added in the Lady Chapel and a large crucifix was suspended from the sanctuary arch.

In 1974 architect Ralph Lovegrove began work to convert St Joseph's church's old presbytery for use as a church hall. In 1980 the original high altar, tabernacle, pulpit and communion rails were removed from St Joseph's church. In 2006 a new parish priest became the fifth since 1916. In 2010 an assistant priest was appointed to St Joseph's.

In 2017 the Parishes of Saint Joseph and Saint Swithun were amalgamated, with the new parish known as SS Joseph and Swithun Bromley. In 2018 the parish priest celebrated the Golden Jubilee of his Ordination. In 1948 a new stained-glass window was installed in the south aisle of St Joseph's church to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of the mission.

Architecture and furnishings

The furnishings include statues of St Joseph, the Virgin and St Anthony, a large timber crucifix suspended from the arch, and large unframed Stations of the Cross. At the southeast is the Sacred Heart chapel, with a statue of the Sacred Heart and wrought iron gates with the instruments of the Passion. An oil painting of the Assumption hangs between two windows in the north transept, and the Lady Chapel has a simple reredos with a statue of the Virgin in a niche.

Music and liturgy

The parish's choirs join together to sing on special occasions. Parents run Children's Liturgy of the Word sessions of about 25 minutes for children aged 3–7 years.

Parish life

The Bromley Homeless Shelter was established by a number of Christian churches in Bromley, including St Joseph's Church. In 2021 the Bromley Homeless Shelter merged with LATCH to form Bromley Homeless. The Christians Against Poverty Bromley Partnership was established in 2017 and was initially funded by five Bromley churches, one of these being St Joseph's.

The Parish Pastoral Council was established in 2008 and is made up of 12 representatives from the community. The parish has about 50 parish groups, including music teams and choirs, youth groups and social and liturgical groups. The parish supports several local charities, working with and for homeless and deprived people of all ages and older people in need of care in their own homes. The parish has a Journey in Faith group: the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA).

Regular events

In 2019, an Alpha course is held for the first time from May to July. In 2015, the Syro-Malabar Community celebrates the Feast of St Thomas the Apostle with a Syro-Malabar Rite Mass for the first time at St Joseph’s Church.

Sacraments and pastoral care

Expectant parents are welcomed to enrol for baptism preparation and ask the priest or deacon for a blessing for their unborn child and themselves. A minimum of six months' notice is essential for parishioners wishing to marry in the parish. The Marriage Preparation Team consists of married couples who offer those planning to marry the opportunity to talk together in an informal atmosphere.

The parish's faith formation includes catechesis for adults through RCIA and The Wednesday World. The parish's faith formation includes learning at the time of sacraments such as Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Communion, Reconciliation, and Marriage. The parish's faith formation includes living faith and sharing faith through parish retreats, praying with scripture, nurturing vocations, Taize prayer, and Eucharistic Adoration.