History 1937-46

A brief history of St James the Great, 1937 - 1946

Catholics have worshipped in Petts Wood since 1937 and in a variety of venues. The first was the Daylight Inn, Station Square, hired for Sundays and Holy Days for the princely sum of 10/6d on each occasion. The first Mass was celebrated on 24th October 1937, and the story and accompanying photograph even made it to the national press!

Catholics in Petts Wood originally came under the care of Holy Innocents, Orpington and its clergy – Fr Lawrence Bovington, and his assistant Fr Louis Fitzmaurice. As numbers increased, Fr Bovington cast about for a site on which to build a church, and eventually a small building was constructed on Lakeswood Road. It was placed under the patronage of St James the Great and saw the celebration of its first Mass on 23rd July 1939.

In 1941 Fr Hubert Simes, assistant priest at Orpington, was given charge of the church and people of Petts Wood. In the following year, the care of Petts Wood was transferred to the parish of Chislehurst. The site on which St James’ Primary School would eventually be built was secured, and in 1944, 283 Crescent Drive was purchased for future use as a presbytery.