Church celebrates 150 years since first mass in Kilburn fields
Mayor of Camden Cllr Lazzaro Pietragnoli visited Sacred Heart Church for their 150th Anniversary celebrations. Picture: Polly Hancock - Credit: Archant
Catholic West Hampstead parishioners kicked off celebrating 150 years of their church, championing its work in integrating immigrants into the area.
A special mass took place at the Sacred Heart Church in Quex Road on Saturday, joined by the Mayor of Camden Lazzaro Pietragnoli.
It marked the arrival of Father Robert Cooke on February 1, 1865, who stepped off a bus outside the nearby Cock Tavern and, confronted by what were then green fields, conducted what was said to be the first mass in the area since the Reformation of the church.
Just five people knelt with him, but it was the beginning of the church that stands there today.
Fr Michael O’Connor, a priest at Sacred Heart, said: “It has a long history as an immigrant church, welcoming people into the area and helping them integrate. In the 50s and 60s, it was a place where many Irish immigrants came, so many we would hold 14 masses on Sundays. It’s changed dramatically since then. We serve about 34 different nationalities now.”
You may also want to watch:
A number of events celebrating the anniversary are to take place throughout the year.
Visit omiquex.org.uk for more information.
Most Read
- 1 Rabindranath Tagore's Hampstead home on the market for £2.65m
- 2 Hampstead house ravaged by early morning blaze
- 3 Artist who captures North London's 'special light'
- 4 Hundreds of activists descend on north London incinerator demanding end to rebuild
- 5 'It's madness': Queues block north London roads amid petrol shortage
- 6 Haverstock Hill petrol station 'assault' arrest as motorists queue for fuel
- 7 Pure Gym to open in Crouch End
- 8 Man charged with Haringey murder and victim named
- 9 Petrol station forecourts closed and long queues in north London
- 10 Meet the entrepreneur helping Londoners find the cool dining spots
