Sacred Heart Church (Teddington)

Sacred Heart Church is a Roman Catholic church and parish in Teddington, South West London that serves the Catholic community of Teddington and Hampton Wick. It is in the Upper Thames Deanery of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Westminster and is situated at 262 Kingston Road, approximately midway between the junctions with Kingston Bridge and Teddington Lock Footbridge.HistoryFrom the late 18th century there were linen-bleaching works located in the fields along the banks of the nearby River Thames, now the site of Teddington Studios, Lensbury Club and Teddington School. There were one or two Roman Catholic families associated with these works. A temporary Roman Catholic chapel was first opened in Hampton Wick in 1882. In 1884 a Roman Catholic school was built in Fairfax Road, South Teddington. Named Chantry House, the ground floor was used for the school whilst the first floor served as a chapel until the church was built.The classical style brick church with stone dressings was designed by John Kelly of Kelly & Birchall, a Leeds firm who also designed several other contemporary churches in the area. The church opened in 1893 with seating for up to 200 people. It comprised five bays with nave, aisles, and a short apsidal chancel. In 1934–35, under Fr Philip Foley, the church was extended westwards, adding a further two bays to accommodate a presbytery.