Erith, Kent

Erith is in the London Borough of Bexley. It lies on the south bank of the Thames, about six miles east of Woolwich. A Capuchin named Fr Maurice is mentioned in old directories as working in the neighbourhood in 1867. According to an old tradition Mass was said in a house in Cross Street; this house has not yet been identified. "Consequently, with the permission of his Superiors, he rented a small room and there gathered these scattered Catholics for Mass on Sundays and Holydays. Bigotry was rife in Erith at that time, and soon as the owner of the room discovered to what purpose his property was being put, he gave Father Maurice notice to quit."@

Soon Fr Maurice had secured a plot of land in West Street, on which he built a small church and school. - West Street is low-lying, and near the river in the older and then, industrial part of Erith.

The church was dedicated to St Fidelis, the Capuchin martyr. Fr Maurice and his brother companion are said to have dwelt at first in a small corrugated-iron hut until a benefactor came to their aid and the old friary of St Fidelis was built at the end of the church. In this the friars lived for over a quarter of a century; later it housed the caretaker and his family; subsequently it was incorporated into the school and used as a classroom. More early History

	After a time some property was bought high up on Northumberland Heath, at the junction of Bexley Road and Carlton Road. There Fr Bernardine, the Guardian at the time. built a new friary dedicated to Our Lady of the Angels. Building began in October 1902; the house was opened in the following year. The intention was to build a church also on this site.
But only sixty years later was this ambition realised, after many vicissitudes. Fr David, who was the Guardian from 1925 to 1928, built a hall between the friary and the little cemetery and for a time this hall was used as a church, at least on Sundays.

Fr Gerald, during his Guardianship, transformed one whole wing of the friary into a chapel; this was opened in December 1947, and was in use until the present fine church was opened in 1963. At first one corridor of the friary, then two, served as a chapel in which Mass was said for those who lived at that end of the parish; West Street church continued to serve those at the other end, until late in 1989, when, as part of an extensive Council plan or redevelopment, it was closed and demolished together with its adjoining buildings. Two stained glass windows from St Fidelis church have now been repositioned in he church of Our Lady of the Angels.

It cost £50,000 to build and was built by Mr. H. Friday- Contractor. The Bishop Right Rev. Cyril Cowderoy, Bishop of Southwark.arrived with him came the Provincial of the Franciscan Order In England, and before them in long procession filed Franciscans from Oxford, Birkenhead, Chester and Crawley, and priests from all over this district. The procession moved slowly up the aisle, coming to a halt before the altar. After praying, the Bishop made a tour of the church before blessing the foundation stone.The Tower is 67ft high, but appears taller because it tapers towards the top, thus giving a false perspective. Nevertheless it is tall enough to act as a landmark in the surrounding area, and it also offers an amazing view of the surrounding Parish. It was Dedicated on 28th September 2002 by the Most Reverend Archbishop Michael G Bowen.

It was Dedicated on 28th September 2002 by the Most Reverend Archbishop Michael G Bowen.

A Primary School in Bexley Road was opened at the beginning of November 1960 it is dedicated to St. Fidelis, thus maintaining continuity with the old school and church in West Street

The old friary at Greenhithe. founded in 1861, later became a convent of nuns. In 1948 a Mass-centre was started at Slade Green. Today the friars at Erith serve Our Lady of the Angels on Northumberland Heath. In addition, Erith is now the official residence of the Provincial and his office (Curia).

@ Extracted from Franciscan Annals Vol LXVI (1942-1943)

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