St. Peter, Dagenham

Introduction

Saint Peter's Church in Dagenham, within the Diocese of Brentwood, was designed by W. C. Mangan in his favoured Italian Lombard style. The foundation stone was laid on 31 January 1937 and the church was opened by Bishop Doubleday on 5 December 1937.

History

In 1926 the Reverend J Petit, later bishop of Menevia, established a mission here for south Dagenham. The mission was taken over in 1928 by the La Salette Missionaries. The present church hall was in use for worship by 1929. At the time of the opening the church seated 700. In 2004 the coffered ceiling collapsed and in 2005 the church was repaired and re-ordered a second time, returning to its original internal arrangement.

Architecture and furnishings

The walls are faced with red brick and the roofs are covered in Roman tiles. On the north side is a lower Lady Chapel, and the chapel has an apse with mosaic decoration. The frieze above the nave arcades is inscribed with texts. Above the clerestory are a heavy modillion cornice and a flat coffered ceiling, reconstructed in 2005 after collapse.

The deep semi-circular sanctuary arch is coffered but the sanctuary apse is plain. The eastern arch of the north arcade which leads into the side chapel shrine of Our Lady of Salette is glazed. The high altar is raised on parquet steps under a handsome classical baldacchino. A modern nave altar is set on a modern parquet platform. The benches appear to be original.

Parish life

The parish maintains groups for flower arrangers, choir members, ushers, and catechists who support Children's Liturgy, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation.

Sacraments and pastoral care

The Confirmation Programme is for young adults who have been previously baptised and have also received the Sacrament of Holy Communion. The catechists are volunteers drawn from committed members of the parish. The sessions provide a complete programme of instruction for the Sacrament of Confirmation. The parish is registered for Catholic Marriages.

Visiting

The Rosary prayer is said in the church nearly every day during the week after the morning Mass, apart from Tuesday and Wednesday. The parish has a youth hall available for rent during the week.