Our Church

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About our Church

Read a bit more about our Church.

Calendar

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Blog

Read the latest news from our Church.

Safeguarding

Read about our safeguarding policy.

Mission Statement

St. Augustine’s is a Church which holds the Holy Communion of the Lord to be the focus of its worship. It promotes the Christian faith. It serves its local community in a way that is fulfilling and consistent with our faith. This is done by welcoming everyone, caring for those in need and by providing companionship to all.

Safeguarding

We are committed to Safeguarding Children, Young People, Victims/perpetrators of Domestic Abuse and Vulnerable Adults.

The PCC has adopted the Church of England’s policies and best practice on safeguarding which may be found on the Church of England’s website: https://www.churchofengland.org/more/safeguarding or on the
Safeguarding pages of the Chelmsford Diocese: https://www.chelmsford.anglican.org/safeguarding.

Our Parish Safeguarding Officer is Ann, who may be contacted at church or by email safeguarding@staugustinechurch.co.uk.

Our Team

Meet the team

Father Martin Howse

Vicar

Fr. Martin Howse SSC has been the Vicar of St. Augustine’s since late February 2003. He was trained at St. Stephen’s House, Oxford.

Carol Easteal

Churchwarden / PCC Member

Carol has been a Churchwarden at our Church for many years. Carol is an integral part of the Church and a member of the PCC.

Veronica Vernon-Penrose

Churchwarden / PCC Member

Veronica is our Churchwarden and has been for many years. Veronica is an integral part of the Church, hosting many House Masses. Veronica is also a member of our PCC.

Read the latest news from our Church

History of the Church

Below is some history of our Church. Since the fire in 1993, the church has been repaired and renovated to its current look with Father Martin now in the position of Parish Priest. A news report from the time of the fire can be found on our About Us\History of the Church page.
Romford Recorder (19th March 1993)

Romford Recorder (19th March 1993)

The church of St Augustine of Canterbury, in Birkbeck Road, Rush Green, was gutted by fire after a likely electrical fault.

With an organ that was “burned beyond repair” and a treasured statue of St Augustine that had been broken in half by falling timber, it looked grim for the church.

But stoic Father Bryan Whittaker said it would be “business as usual” for the congregation on Sunday. Services would take place in the church hall and the vicarage until the damage could be repaired

Essex Record Office

Essex Record Office

The parish of St. Augustine of Canterbury, Romford, originated as a mission of St. Andrew, Romford. According to a note in D/P 580/1/17 the first services were held in September 1946. A church was erected in 1948 at the corner of Birkbeck Road and Rush Green Road, and dedicated in February 1949. A conventional district was formed in 1953. A new church was dedicated in December 1958 and destroyed by fire in March 1993. In 1969 Augustine's became a separate parish, formed out of St. Andrew Romford, St. Peter and St. Paul Dagenham and Holy Cross Hornchurch.
The parish is also commonly known as St. Augustine Rush Green.

Romford: Religious History

Romford: Religious History

The church of St. Augustine, Rush Green, Birkbeck Road, originated in 1946 as a mission of St. Andrew, Romford. In 1948 a hut was erected at the corner of Birkbeck and Rush Green Roads, and in 1953 a conventional district was formed. A dual-purpose church was built in 1958, and a hall was added in 1965. A separate parish, taken from the parishes of St. Andrew, Romford, St. Peter and St. Paul, Dagenham, and Holy Cross, Hornchurch, was formed in 1969. The advowson of the vicarage was vested in the bishop of Chelmsford.

Our 60th Anniversary

Our 60th Anniversary

(9th December 2018)

The 9th December 2018 was our 60th anniversary of the consecration of the Church. Ann Jennings baked an amazing cake model of our Church for the celebration and we held a display of old photographs and documents in the Church Hall after the service.

We wish to thank everyone who has shared in our history and look forward to celebrating our 70th anniversary in 2028. Click on the picture for more details.

Blog

ADVENT 2 – 08/12/2024

Advent 2 Year C Sung Mass at 10.00 hrs. Malachi 3:1-4; Canticle Luke 1:68-79; Philippians 1:3-11; Luke 3:1-6 New English Hymnal 12, 407, 170, 10 The setting will be the New English Folk Mass.- NEH541 Read more…

ADVENT 1 – 01/12/2024

Advent 1 Year C Sung Mass at 10.00 hrs. Jeremiah 33:14-16; Psalm 25:1-9; 1 Thessalonians 3:9-end; Luke 21:25-36 New English Hymnal 3, 5, 9, 14 The setting will be the New English Folk Mass.- NEH541 Read more…

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Birkbeck Road
Rush Green
Romford
RM7 0QP

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