St. Lawrence of Canterbury, Sidcup

Introduction

Saint Lawrence's has served the Catholic community of Sidcup since 1903, when the Comboni Missionaries established their first parish in England. The church is locally listed and lies within a conservation area.

History

The Verona Fathers, formally the Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus, were entrusted with the Sidcup mission in August 1903. Bishop Francis Bourne had visited the Comboni Mother House in Verona during his ad limina visit to Rome in May 1903 and invited the Society to establish a parish in his diocese. A first church was built in 1905 but was condemned as unsafe by the local council and demolished. The Comboni Missionaries built the replacement church, designed by Edward Goldie and opened by Bishop Peter Amigo on 15 August 1906.

The Verona Fathers transferred the parish to the Marist Fathers in 1911, leaving behind a building that was not yet fully complete and debts of £6,000. The Society of Mary, known as the Marist Fathers, took over Saint Lawrence's on 22 June 1911. The Marist Fathers served at Saint Lawrence's for 101 years, until their departure in 2012. Following the Marist Fathers' departure, the parish was transferred to diocesan clergy under the Archdiocese of Southwark. The Marist Fathers organised the fundraising effort that made possible the completion of the building in 1930, when the aisles and sacristy were added.

Architecture and furnishings

The current church was designed by Edward Goldie (1856–1921), FRIBA, a specialist in Gothic Revival Catholic churches. The church follows a cruciform plan, approaching a Greek cross with slightly shorter transept arms, built in stock brick laid in English bond with stone dressings and a tiled pitched roof. The west facade features a shallow gabled porch with a semicircular tympanum depicting the Good Shepherd and the inscription 'St Lawrence' above the entrance. The main body of the church was completed in 1906; following the fire of 1928, the parish raised funds to repair and extend the building, with aisles and sacristy added when it reopened on 27 April 1930.

A small further extension was added at the southwest corner in 1986–87, designed by the architects Walters and Kerr Bate. The church is dedicated to Saint Lawrence of Canterbury, co-apostle of Kent and second Archbishop of Canterbury. The church is recorded on Taking Stock, the survey of Catholic church buildings in England and Wales. Extraordinary Ministers assist in giving Holy Communion at Mass.

Parish life

The parish holds a Christmas Fayre each year, bringing the whole community together in support of the parish. The parish has a close bond with St Peter Chanel Catholic Primary and Pre-School, which is named after a Marist priest and martyr. The parish supports the school's Catholic life through Mass, the celebration of the Sacraments and shared moments of the liturgical year. The parish hall is available for private hire for parties and community events.

The parish hall has long been a hub of parish and social activity, hosting our own gatherings and giving the parish somewhere to sit down together. The parish has an active and growing First Holy Communion preparation group. The RCIA programme at Saint Lawrence's is led by a priest, with sessions typically beginning in the autumn and the Sacraments of Initiation received at the Easter Vigil.

Sacraments and pastoral care

Couples wishing to marry at Saint Lawrence's should contact the parish office at least six months before the planned date, and are required to attend a Church-approved marriage preparation course.

Visiting

The parish hall stands behind the church on Hamilton Road, a short walk from Sidcup station. The hall roof was replaced in August 2025 with support from The National Lottery Community Fund.