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.
Email Father Bryan
Father Bryan Wells | Tel: 01689 827100 | 283 Crescent Drive, Petts Wood, Orpington, BR5 1AY
Site last updated 16th March 2010
Home Recent updates Mass times Spiritual resources Prayer intentions 2009 Stations of the Cross Pastoral Help at hand Evangelium Taizé news Homilies Journey in Faith What's on? March 2010 April 2010 May 2010 June 2010 July 2010 January 2010 February 2010 2009 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 2008 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 2007 December 2007 November 2007 Weekly bulletins Help the parish Duty rotas Parish administration Pastoral & Advisory Mission & Planning Parish Office Property Committee Gift Aid Parish forums 2008 2009 March October Annual calendar Parish groups Group Contacts Catenians Catholic Women's League Children's Liturgy Guides Justice and Peace Knights of St Columba Parent and Toddler Scouts Youth Groups Social Centre Club/Bar Firm Believers fitness Sequence Dancing Development Development news Parish news & events Festival Chorus - see news News Messiah performance Archive Residents' Association Service St John Passion March 2008 St John Passion CD Education St James' Primary School General What's On at school St James' School PTA St James' Pre-School Child protection How to find us About Fr Bryan Wells History of the parish 1937 - 1946 1946 - today Southwark Archdiocese External links Contact webmaster
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.
Email Father Bryan
Father Bryan Wells | Tel: 01689 827100 | 283 Crescent Drive, Petts Wood, Orpington, BR5 1AY
Site last updated 16th March 2010
Home Recent updates Mass times Spiritual resources Prayer intentions 2009 Stations of the Cross Pastoral Help at hand Evangelium Taizé news Homilies Journey in Faith What's on? March 2010 April 2010 May 2010 June 2010 July 2010 January 2010 February 2010 2009 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 2008 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 2007 December 2007 November 2007 Weekly bulletins Help the parish Duty rotas Parish administration Pastoral & Advisory Mission & Planning Parish Office Property Committee Gift Aid Parish forums 2008 2009 March October Annual calendar Parish groups Group Contacts Catenians Catholic Women's League Children's Liturgy Guides Justice and Peace Knights of St Columba Parent and Toddler Scouts Youth Groups Social Centre Club/Bar Firm Believers fitness Sequence Dancing Development Development news Parish news & events Festival Chorus - see news News Messiah performance Archive Residents' Association Service St John Passion March 2008 St John Passion CD Education St James' Primary School General What's On at school St James' School PTA St James' Pre-School Child protection How to find us About Fr Bryan Wells History of the parish 1937 - 1946 1946 - today Southwark Archdiocese External links Contact webmaster