Our Lady of Grace Parish Buildings Preservation Trust

Our Lady of Grace Church: A Masterpiece Under Threat

Our Lady of Grace Church faces closure by June 2026 unless urgent action is taken. Built between 1905 and 1906, this exceptional building represents one of the earliest reinforced concrete churches in England, employing the rare Neo-Romanesque style. The land beneath the church has witnessed over a millennium of English history, from its origins as a Saxon royal gift to its current role as a centre of Catholic worship threatened with closure.

Our Lady of Grace Church: A Masterpiece of Neo-Romanesque Architecture

At the heart of our parish stands Our Lady of Grace Church, built between 1905 and 1906. The church is one of the earliest reinforced concrete churches in England, built in the rare Neo-Romanesque style – an unusual choice for Catholic churches in England during this period. Unlike the Gothic Revival style prevalent at the time, this building embraces Continental Romanesque traditions, reflecting both architectural innovation and the French origins of the Assumptionist community who commissioned it.

Architectural Significance

The church's design demonstrates sophisticated understanding of Romanesque principles whilst incorporating modern construction techniques of the early 20th century. Key architectural features include:

• Rounded arches throughout - The characteristic Romanesque round arch appears in windows, doorways, and the internal arcade
• Barrel vaulting - Creating the sense of solidity and permanence associated with ancient churches
• A unique triforium - Decorated with symbols from the Litany of Loreto, demonstrating theological sophistication in architectural form
• Rose window - A magnificent focal point above the main entrance

Between 1925 and 1927, Fr Gregory Chedal, A.A., enhanced the interior with exquisite hand-carved woodwork, adding another layer of artistic significance to this already remarkable building. The church suffered bomb damage in 1940 and narrowly escaped destruction from V1 and V2 rockets in 1944, making its survival and continued use all the more precious.

The Ancient Foundations

Our story begins in the Anglo-Saxon period. In 918 CE, Princess Ælfthryth made a gift of this land to the Abbey of Ghent in Belgium. This early religious connection established a pattern of ecclesiastical ownership that would endure for over six centuries. The name "coombe" in Eastcombe derives from the Old English "cumb," meaning a valley or hollow, perfectly describing the natural landscape that characterises this area between Greenwich and Charlton.

For over 600 years, the land remained in religious hands as farmland, until Henry VIII's reformation transformed English religious life. In 1537, as part of the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the King seized the property and annexed it to the Manor of Old Court, ending centuries of monastic ownership.

The Great Estate Era

The transformation from farmland to prestigious estate began in 1710 when Captain William Saunderson built the first mansion on Charlton Road. Saunderson was no ordinary naval officer – he commanded HM Yacht William and Mary, which transported King William III and Queen Mary II to Holland. His house, known as "Clockhouse" and later "East Combe," established this area as a desirable location for the wealthy and influential.

The Three Houses of Eastcombe

By the early 19th century, the Eastcombe estate had evolved to include three magnificent residences. The broader area between Greenwich and Charlton, including the Nethercombe, Westcombe and Eastcombe estates, once featured numerous grand houses. Today, only two buildings survive from all these estates: Highcombe House from Eastcombe and Woodlands House from the Nethercombe estate. This exceptional rarity makes the preservation of Highcombe House crucial for understanding the area's historic development and social history.

This second Eastcombe House, demolished in 1904, once stood approximately where Sherington School is today. Its most distinguished resident was Eleanor Agnes, Dowager Countess of Buckinghamshire (1816-1851), whose presence attracted other members of the landed gentry to Charlton.

Distinguished Residents: A Succession of Notable Figures

From 1710 to 1903, the Eastcombe estate properties housed a remarkable succession of naval officers, baronets, engineers, aristocrats, and inventors. Each generation left its mark on the buildings and grounds, creating layers of history that enrich our understanding of Georgian and Victorian society.

Return to Sacred Purpose: The Assumptionist Era (1903-1972)

In 1903, following William Barlow's death in the entrance hall the previous November, the Sisters of the Assumption, exiled from France by anti-clerical laws, purchased the property. The Oblates of the Assumption arrived at Highcombe on 18th July 1903, transforming the Regency villa into a religious house. Mass was first celebrated the next day on 19th July by Fr Benedict Caron, A.A., initially with just the sisters and five parishioners, though within weeks over 100 attended, demonstrating the need for a proper church.

For 60 years (1912-1972), Highcombe House served as the Assumptionist Fathers' residence and base for their pastoral work. Notable figures included Fr Gregory Chedal, A.A., who carved much of the church's distinctive woodwork between 1925-1927. The house's basement served as an air raid shelter during the First World War Zeppelin raids, and the church suffered bomb damage in 1940 and near misses from V1 and V2 rockets in 1944.

After the Assumptionist Sisters departed for their mother house in Bethnal Green in 1972, the Assumptionist Fathers continued until 1989, when Fr Michael Leach became the first Diocesan parish priest. In April 2012, the parish returned to the care of religious priests when the Spiritans (Holy Ghost Fathers), founded in Paris in 1703, took responsibility with Fr Uche Njoku CSSp as parish priest.

The Assumptionists' legacy extends far beyond our parish. Today, they continue their mission across the South of England, and our Trust's proposal recognises the importance of allowing them to focus their resources on their wider apostolic work whilst ensuring the church they built continues serving the Catholic community.

Educational Heritage

Our Lady of Grace School

The establishment of Our Lady of Grace School demonstrates the Assumptionist community's commitment to Catholic education. Beginning humbly in 1905 in the conservatory of Highcombe House, the school evolved through various phases:

• 1905: School opens in the conservatory of Highcombe House
• 1928: Expands to include the converted stables
• 1937: Incorporates Littlecombe, the former residence of Lady Charlotte Wilson
• 1939: Purpose-built school opens at the Littlecombe site
• 2017: School relocates to new modern facilities

For nearly a century, successive generations of local children have received their education here, creating multi-generational connections within the parish community. Many current parishioners attended the school, as did their parents and now their children, establishing patterns of continuous community involvement.

St Austin's School

In 1956, four acres of land behind Highcombe House were sold to the Diocese of Southwark for the construction of St Austin's Secondary Modern School for Boys. Opening in January 1957, the school operated for 34 years until its closure in 1991, when students were transferred to St Joseph's Academy in Lee. The site was subsequently redeveloped for housing, with only the sports field retained by the Diocese.

Related Heritage: Woodlands House

Preserving Our Church Heritage

Today, Our Lady of Grace Church faces an existential threat with notice to vacate by June 2026. This exceptional neo-Romanesque building, one of only two surviving structures from all the historic estates between Greenwich and Charlton (alongside Woodlands House), represents irreplaceable Catholic heritage.

The Our Lady of Grace Parish Buildings Preservation Trust was established in 2025 to save the church from closure. The Trust has proposed to accept the gift of the church building from the Assumptionists, commissioned a comprehensive Conservation Plan from the University of Kent, and submitted a formal listing application to Historic England (Reference: 1494732). The Trust works to preserve both the exceptional architectural heritage and the continuing religious function that has characterised the site since 1903.