History 1946-today

This picture was published in the Petts Wood Advertiser, February 1949. Fr Scarborough is seen helping a young parishioner, Anne Curr, to make a paper hat from a serviette at a children's party given by the church. If you have any old photos of life at St James', please let the webmaster know.

Footnote: Isabel Curr emailed to confirm the identity of Anne Curr RIP. Isabel has lived in Australia for 37 years but was born and bred in Petts Wood with sisters Anne and Margaret, and the family attended St James' The Great while living here.

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

In 1946, Fr Cyril Scarborough became the first resident Parish Priest and he was succeeded by Fr John Wright in 1956. Fr Wright served the parish until his death in 1978.

Meanwhile the existing church was proving inadequate, as Petts Wood had continued to develop as a residential area, and a new building was needed. In 1963, Archbishop Cowderoy laid the Foundation Stone of what is now the present building and later in the year it was opened for regular worship. The old premises were then altered for use as a hall (our present Social Centre). In 1970, nearly 30 years after Fr Simes had secured the site, the Primary School of St James the Great was opened in Maybury Close.

On 25th July 1978, the Feast of St James, Fr Wright was succeeded by Monsignor John Elliott, who was duly instituted by Archbishop Bowen. During the Silver Jubilee Year of the church, on 17th July 1988, Archbishop Bowen officially consecrated and dedicated the church. In Mgr Elliott’s time the church and adjoining hall were to be redesigned and enlarged into what we see today, and 281 Crescent Drive was purchased as an addition to the Presbytery.

In September 2006, Mgr Elliott retired, and in October of that year Fr Bryan Wells and his family were received into the parish. Fr Bryan was inducted as Priest-in- Charge on 24th November 2006 by the area bishop, the Rt Rev. Patrick Lynch, SS.CC.