Today, we found out that the Diocese of Southwark is planning to sell our church, pre-school and priest’s house. This simply cannot be allowed to happen.

The Hermitage, which comprises of the Priest’s house and the former Bishop’s house, requires considerable work and this is not financially viable. It is completely understandable that the Hermitage needs to be sold. What cannot, however, be allowed to happen is the sale of our church. 

The church is the hub of a thriving local Catholic community. It is not only used to celebrate mass, but also for baptisms, first communions, marriages and funerals. It has been the heart of our parish for 50 years and is closely linked to More Park Catholic Primary School, which is on the same site. The school and church have always depended on each other. Parishioners send their children to the pre-school and school and these children, in turn, become the next generation of parishioners. Without the church, the cycle will be broken. 

We understand that the parish is the community and not the building, but surely nobody believes that it can move forward and continue to thrive in makeshift halls. We fear that the Catholic parish of St Thomas More will fizzle out leaving hundreds of Catholic families without a place to worship.

Please sign this petition and help to save the only Catholic Church in the area.