About the
Church
View of the
church from the organ loft
Following the completion of the Great West
Road in 1925, the orchards
and market gardens around the Osterley and Isleworth areas became
housing estates. The foundation stone for the church was laid by the
Rev. Frederick Howard Harding, the priest in charge, on the 28th
October 1933. The church and buildings were designed by Ernest C.
Shearman A.R.I.B.A, who also designed a number of similar churches in
the London area, and was built by Dove bros. of Islington. The church
itself is built of Claygate stock brick with contrasting stone bands
and Fletton brick to create a rich Gothic design. The rich stone
traceried windows are in the form of tall single lights at the north
(alter) end of the church, whereas at the south end of the church there
is a spectacular rose window (below). The high alter came from St.
Mary, Charing Cross Road.
The church, hall and vicarage were built at
the same time. the church
cost approx. £16,000. £7,000 of this came from a donation in memory of
Mrs Ann Harding from Rev. Harding, with a further £6,000 from the
London Diocesan Fund. The remaining money was obtained from
smaller
donations and a 20,000 shilling fund set up by Rev. Harding.
The cost
of the hall was met by an anonymous gift of £1,250 and a similar sum
from the London Diocesan Fund and Ecclesiastical Commissioners.
The district that became the parish of St
Francis of Assisi was carved
from the existing parish of Isleworth, and at the time the building was
completed contained approximately 8000 residents.
The hall was opened by the Rev. B.H. Simpson,
Bishop of Kensington, on
23rd May 1934, and the church was consecrated by the Rt. Rev. Dr.
Winnington-Ingram, Bishop of London, on Saturday 23rd March 1935. The
procession at the consecration service was led by the cross-bearer, who
was followed by choristers, servers, the Mayor, councillors, civic
officials & burgesses, the foreman, builders, the architect, church
officials, visiting clergy, the Bishop of Kensington, the Bishop of
London and their attendants.
In April 1957 the Rood Cross was added to the
church on Easter day. The
cross itself is 15ft high, with the Christ figure standing 7ft 6 inches
tall. The cross was created by Miss Freda Skinner from limewood and was
blessed by Rev. N.S. Pollock.
List of Vicars and Priests in Charge
1933 - Fr. F.H. Harding
1935 - Fr. John G. Murray MA
1939 - Fr. H. Nicholson MA
1947 - Fr. B.H. Kemp MA
1951 - Fr. N.S. Pollock
1966 - Fr. J.H. Brewer
1978 - Fr. G.R. Smith
1983 - Fr. D.R. Knickerbocker
1984 - Fr. D.J. Houghton
1991 - Fr. K.D. Moule
1991 - Fr. R.J.S. Burn
2000 - Fr. D. Wilson, Priest in Charge
2000 - Fr. L.P.Smith, Assistant Curate and Priest with
responsibility
for St. Francis
2005 - Fr. L.P.Smith, Priest in Charge
References
Middlesex Chronicle, New Parish in the
Making.
Middlesex Chronicle, Churches of South West Middlesex.
G.E. Bates, Description of the Church, Scrap Book 1, Hounslow
Library.
Black, R.M. (2002), The Story of St. Francis of Assisi Church,
Isleworth Pamphlet.
Http://www.saintsilas.org.uk.
Thanks to Dr. John Salmon for permission to use his photographs of St.
Francis.
