Our Lady of Grace Charlton · 1906
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Conservation

A landmark church entering a new chapter

The buildings of our parish are a remarkable inheritance now entering a new chapter.

Our church is one of the earliest reinforced concrete churches in England, built by sisters in exile and designed by a Bordeaux architect at the dawn of modern construction. The Archdiocese of Southwark has accepted ownership of the church, and a programme of restoration is now in formation under the parish's leadership. The wider precinct continues to need careful conservation if it is to serve the next century as well as it has served the last.

The Our Lady of Grace Parish Buildings Preservation Trust was established by parishioners in May 2025 and undertook the foundational work that helped secure the future of the church. Its continuing focus is the adjacent buildings of the precinct and the wider heritage of the site.

Aerial view of the church and Highcombe House from the north-west

The Trust

The Our Lady of Grace Parish Buildings Preservation Trust was established by parishioners in May 2025 and is a separate organisation from the parish. Its work today centres on the heritage of the precinct: the adjacent buildings, the historic gardens, and the architectural record of the site.

The Trust's website carries its publications and the ways to support its work.

Visit the Trust →

The buildings

The church is in daily use and structurally sound, with routine maintenance in hand. The Archdiocese of Southwark has accepted ownership, and a programme of restoration is taking shape under the parish's leadership, with heritage funding pathways now open.

Highcombe House, the Grade II listed Regency villa beside the church, is owned by the Augustinians of the Assumption, with whom its long-term future rests. The Parish Hall, built by parishioners in 1922–23, and the crypt remain in regular parish use.

The arrival of Fr Sebastian Joseph as Parish Priest on 1 September 2026 marks the next chapter in the renewal of the parish.

Supporting the work

To support the parish, including the restoration of the church, see Get Involved. To support the Trust's heritage work for the wider precinct, visit ologtrust.org.uk.

For the full conservation programme, visit the Trust's website.

The Trust's site carries the Heritage Statement, the Conservation Plan, the trustees, news and updates, and the formal record of the conservation programme.

ologtrust.org.uk →