A plain modern church of 1991-92, of little architectural or historical significance, with one or two furnishings of note.

In 1973 a Mass Centre was established at Parkwood by the parish priest of Rainham in order to serve the growing Parkwood Estate. The first Mass was said on 23 July of that year at the Community Centre, Parkwood Green. In 1976-8 the school of St Augustine was built and its hall was used as Mass Centre. In 1983 Parkwood and Wigmore became an independent parish. The first parish priest was Fr Peter Ryman, who lived in a house adjacent to the school which had been purchased as a presbytery.

The foundation stone for the church of St Augustine of Canterbury was laid by Bishop John Jukes on 1 December 1991. The church was opened by Archbishop Bowen on 29 May 1992. The builder was Richard Martin, and the construction consultant was Douglas Harvey-Browne.

Description

The church faces northwest; however, this description uses the conventional, liturgical orientation.

A plain modern church, faced in brick laid in stretcher bond, under a pitched roof. The plan is rectangular, with a large internal lobby to the west. The narthex contains the sacristy, a kitchen and a toilet. The nave is lit by eight windows and three triangular dormer windows on each side. There are statues of St Joseph and Our Lady at the northwest. The Stations are unframed casts. The east end has three vertical window bands on either side of a panel painting with a Calvary scene. The sanctuary furniture is of matching marble. The tabernacle has a fine Last Supper scene in enamel. There is a statue of St Anthony in the southeast corner and one of the Sacred Heart (by Stuflesser, Ortisei, Italy) in the southwest corner.

Amended by AHP 05.02.2021

Heritage Details