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Was established in October 1938. The first priest was Fr. John Cotter MS, who arrived from America at the invitation of the Rev. Arthur Doubley, Bishop of Brentwood in October 1936. On December 8th, 1937, Fr. Cotter bought 5 acres of land. For £ 4,550, he got: a 150 year old farmhouse, a couple of old barns, plus several out buildings and a magnificent orchard of over 300 apple trees. The farmhouse was to become the presbytery while the largest of barns was to become the much needed New Church. The cost being £ 1,700. The first masses were said in the presbytery while the church was being built. The intention was to have it ready for the following Easter. Gangs of men from the parish worked day and night (some when they came off night duty at Ford's). The ladies of the parish organized fund raising events. There was a great enthusiasm and spirit. Work continued and thanks to everybody efforts, Fr. Cotter was able to celebrate the very first Mass on Maundy Thursday, 6th April, 1936. A few weeks later he purchased, from Lyon, at cost of £ 7.10s the statue of Our Lady of La Salette which still has pride of place in our Church. The primary school was started in 1955 and opened in January 1957. By the 1960 this prove too small and additional classrooms were built. By 1963 the original Church proved to be too small and plans were drawn up to build the present one, a new presbytery and yet more School classrooms. A new system of planned giving was introduce to cover some expenses. The response as usual was tremendous and the new foundations were laid. The classrooms were finished in 1965 and work started on the new Church. It was decided to renovate and to change the old church into the new Parish Hall. In July and August, works began to knock down the old presbytery and starting the construction of the new Social Club which finally opened 1967. Although the new Church was uncompleted, the first Mass was celebrated on Christmas day 1966. It finally opened in October 1967. It was finally paid for and thus consecrated on 19th September (the feast of Our Lady of La Salette), 1984. Four years later our Parish Celebrated the Golden Jubilee. In 1990-91 came a great challenge for the Parish when American La Salette Fathers were called back to the states, having served us loyally for 53 years. Since June 1991 our Parish is served under the guidance of the Polish La Salette Fathers and continue to thrive. For the last few years our parish is working on the New Millennium project which is to create a Garden and a Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette on the ground behind the church. In 1996, a metal statue of Our Lady of La Salette was brought from France and is now standing in our shrine patronizing our parish. Thank to generosity of many parishioners our garden and shrine is starting to look very nice. We hope that soon in the surrounding of trees, bushes and flowers those who will be coming here find the atmosphere for prayer and rest. At the beginning of the New Millennium we all pray that our God continue to bless our parish now and in the future.
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