A Short History of the Parish

1846	Initial discussions about the possibility of a parish in Peckham, promoted by Mr James Gilbert.
1851	Fr Louis of Lavagna, on a journey from Toronto, stops in Peckham and becomes interested in founding a mission there. Meets with Cardinal Wiseman and Mr Gilbert.
1854	Bishop Grant, of Southwark, was in Rome for the definition of the Immaculate Conception. He met a Capuchin, Fr Emidius, who asked his permission to set up a house for the Order in London, to which he readily agreed.
1856	Purchase of present site by Fr Emidius. First small school opened the following year.
1859	Enough funds raised to begin work on building church.
1866	Church opened by Bishop Grant.
1879	Arrival of Marist Brothers and Sisters, who continued to teach in the school until the Second World War.
1883	School buildings completely rebuilt after being destroyed by fire. These buildings remained, with some modifications, until the construction of the present buildings in the early 1970s.
1924	Reordering of the Sanctuary, with the screen behind the altar removed and the altar moved back to the east wall.
1939-45	During the Second World War, the church was bombed on several occasions. The Guardian of the time, Fr Eugene, did much work to save the structure -- including climbing 81 ft to repair the church roof!
1966	Celebration of the centenary of the parish. Consecration of the church, after a further reordering of the sanctuary into its present form.
2000	The Franciscans moved to their house in Erith. Fr Paul Hendricks became the first secular Parish Priest.
2006	Fr Paul Hendricks became an assistant Bishop in Southwark. Fr Anthony Plummer took his place.