Peckham, Our Lady of Sorrows

The Catholic population was estimated at 1,000 in 1849. On August 9 of that year Mr. J. Gilbert called a meeting to consider the erection of a public chapel. Some reference was made to an old bequest of 1492 for perpetual lights before the statues of Our Lady and St. Nicholas— the ancient patrons of the locality - in the parish church.

A mission would appear to have been commenced about 1850 by Fr. J. Furniss, member of an old Catholic family at Hathersage. He joined the Redemptorists at Clapham in 1851. The same year the Capuchin Fathers came to Peckham, Fr. Louis being placed in charge of the mission. He apparently resided at the convent of the Christian Retreat, Kennington, during this time. Upwards of £300 was collected by him for the Peckham mission before his removal to Toronto, Canada, where he died March 17,1857. By this time the Catholic congregation had nearly doubled.

Fr. Anthony, the pupil and successor of Fr. Louis, opened a chapel in a stable in Stafford Street, known to the inhabitants as "The Hole in the Wall" ! On July 6, 1859, the first stone of the present fine church and monastery was laid by Bishop Grant, of Southwark. E. Welby Pugin was the architect. The clergy-house was then at 4 Carlton Place, New Peckham, S.E.

The solemn opening by Archbishop Manning and Bishop Grant took place on Thursday, October 4, 1866. The building consists of a nave and two aisles, which terminate at the eastern end in a chancel and two lateral chapels. The altar of the Lady Chapel is of Irish marbles, curiously carved. A fine Calvary towers above the high altar, the gift of the late Miss Hales, of Canterbury. The cost of erecting the church was £6,000. Fr. Emidius, O.S.F., was guardian of the Peckham monastery at the time the church was opened.

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