The Parish of Hoddesdon is situated in the Lea Valley Deanery. It was founded in 1932 although there was a little mediaeval Catholic Chapel dedicated to St Catherine, which stood where now stands the Clock Tower. This was used by pilgrims en route to Walsingham and is mentioned as early as 1242. In 1898 an order of nuns known as the Canonesses of St Augustine moved to Rawdon House and re-named it St Monica’s Priory. Catholics attended Mass on Sundays in the small chapel there.
In 1932, the Canons Regular of St Augustine moved into Hoddesdon and founded the parish. In 1933 the Sisters of Our Lady opened a convent and school, St Cross. In 1935 the parish built St Augustine’s School.
In 1958, the Augustinian canons left Hoddesdon and the Archdiocese of Westminster took over the parish. In 1962 the new church of St Augustine was opened. This church was reordered firstly in 1989 and secondly in 1996.
There is a full description of our church in the ‘Taking Stock’ project here.
And a further selection of photos of our church available here.