The Parish of Kensal Rise
The Parish begun with the purchase of the Congregational Church in College Park in 1960. His Eminence Cardinal Godfrey officially opened the Church and gave it the title of S.S Simon & Jude. Shortly afterwards, Fr Thomas Allen was appointed as the first Parish Priest. He worked hard single-handed for a number of years until his health deteriorated. Two things worried him a great deal - the very big debt on the Parish, and the remoteness of the Church from the centre of the Parish.
On the feast of the Transfiguration on 6th August 1976, Fr William Dempsey replaced Fr Allen, and immediately began negotiations for the Methodist Church in Kensal Rise. The whole procedure was greatly helped by the good ladies who provided coffee on a Wednesday morning in the Methodist Hall.
The Church was finally transferred to the Archdiocese of Westminster on 21st November 1977 for the sum of £25,500.
Most of the money had already been collected. On 4th November 1976 the fund was opened with a lodgement of £10 with Allied Irish Banks in Kilburn. The £10 was made up of Irish coins that had been put in the collections over the years and were found in the Presbytery.
Parish Priests in the Diocese contributed £6,000. Another £1,000 was given by a number of Convents together with the many materials for the Church and the liturgy. The remainder was gathered up in the Parish together with a personal loan of £4,000.
The alterations were carried out voluntarily by a big number of men, mainly Irish with the terrazzo work done by two Italians.
The Church of the Transfiguration is a monument to the hard work and generosity of the people in Kensal Rise. Apart from the Church, the Parish has grown into one big family with the foundation of the Jesus and Mary Convent in August 1977 and the arrival of Fr Gerard Libbink in October 1977.
On the feast of the Transfiguration on 6th August 1976, Fr William Dempsey replaced Fr Allen, and immediately began negotiations for the Methodist Church in Kensal Rise. The whole procedure was greatly helped by the good ladies who provided coffee on a Wednesday morning in the Methodist Hall.
The Church was finally transferred to the Archdiocese of Westminster on 21st November 1977 for the sum of £25,500.
Most of the money had already been collected. On 4th November 1976 the fund was opened with a lodgement of £10 with Allied Irish Banks in Kilburn. The £10 was made up of Irish coins that had been put in the collections over the years and were found in the Presbytery.
Parish Priests in the Diocese contributed £6,000. Another £1,000 was given by a number of Convents together with the many materials for the Church and the liturgy. The remainder was gathered up in the Parish together with a personal loan of £4,000.
The alterations were carried out voluntarily by a big number of men, mainly Irish with the terrazzo work done by two Italians.
The Church of the Transfiguration is a monument to the hard work and generosity of the people in Kensal Rise. Apart from the Church, the Parish has grown into one big family with the foundation of the Jesus and Mary Convent in August 1977 and the arrival of Fr Gerard Libbink in October 1977.
The Timeline History of Our Parish
1941
• Known as College Park Presbyterian Church
1943
• Converted into a warehouse
1948
• Became a clothing factory known as Maxwell House, Kennet Gardens
1958
• Property was vacated
1959
• The premises was acquired by the Westminster Diocese under the administration of Fr Thomas Allen
1959, 28th September
• Used for public worship
1960, 4th May
• The rebuilding operations finished and the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster formally and officially blessed the Church. Over 900 people attended Masses on this Sunday.
1976, 6th August
• Fr William Dempsey replaced Fr Thomas Allen and immediately began negotiations for the Methodist Church in Kensal Rise
1977, 28th February
• Methodist Trustees agreed to accept the sum of £25,500 for the freehold of the Church
1977, October
• Fr Gerard Lebbink joined the Parish
1977, 21st November
• The Church was finally transferred to the Archdiocese of Westminster for the sum of £25,500
• Known as College Park Presbyterian Church
1943
• Converted into a warehouse
1948
• Became a clothing factory known as Maxwell House, Kennet Gardens
1958
• Property was vacated
1959
• The premises was acquired by the Westminster Diocese under the administration of Fr Thomas Allen
1959, 28th September
• Used for public worship
1960, 4th May
• The rebuilding operations finished and the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster formally and officially blessed the Church. Over 900 people attended Masses on this Sunday.
1976, 6th August
• Fr William Dempsey replaced Fr Thomas Allen and immediately began negotiations for the Methodist Church in Kensal Rise
1977, 28th February
• Methodist Trustees agreed to accept the sum of £25,500 for the freehold of the Church
1977, October
• Fr Gerard Lebbink joined the Parish
1977, 21st November
• The Church was finally transferred to the Archdiocese of Westminster for the sum of £25,500
