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Our Lady Help of Christians
West Byfleet
Surrey
KT14 6DH
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Who we are
Welcome
We are a Catholic Faith community in West Surrey. Our parish comprises a number of villages, but is quite urban in places. It also encompasses very beautiful rural parts of Surrey. We are a flourishing community where about 650 people gather each Sunday for Mass.
We have our own parish Primary School and many young families make up a part of our diverse parish. We are engaged in many pastoral and social activities. Please see all the areas of our Parish Pastoral Plan.
We would be delighted to warmly welcome you in person to our parish.
We are a Catholic Faith community in West Surrey. Our parish comprises a number of villages, but is quite urban in places. It also encompasses very beautiful rural parts of Surrey. We are a flourishing community where about 650 people gather each Sunday for Mass.
We have our own parish Primary School and many young families make up a part of our diverse parish. We are engaged in many pastoral and social activities. Please see all the areas of our Parish Pastoral Plan.
We would be delighted to warmly welcome you in person to our parish.
Location of worship / Church Address
Madeira Road
West Byfleet,
Surrey
KT14 6DH
United Kingdom
Phone: 01932 342892
Fax: 01932 354523
Download Our Lady Help of Christians vCard with Mass Times
Church Pastor
Parish Priest
The Priest’s House
Madeira Road
West Byfleet,
Surrey
KT14 6DH
Madeira Road
United Kingdom
Phone: 01932 342892
Download Parish Priest Fr . Alex Hill vCard
Quote of the Day
1 Corinthians 3:9
For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
Denomination
Catholic Church
Catholic Churches in West Byfleet, Surrey, United Kingdom
Catholic Churches in Surrey, United Kingdom
Catholic Churches in United Kingdom
All churches in West Byfleet, Surrey
Affiliations:
Website:
Social Media
Our Lady Help of Christians West Byfleet on YouTube
Leadership
Leader Name:
Fr . Alex Hill
Leader Position:
Parish Priest
Formal Title:
Leader Address:
The Priest’s House
Madeira Road
West Byfleet
Surrey
KT14 6DH
Madeira Road
West Byfleet
Surrey
KT14 6DH
Tel:
Fax:
Leader Email:
Leader Bio:
Other Church Leaders:
Fr . Alex Hill on Social Media:
Our Lady Help of Christians Leadership Photos
Administration
Admin Name:
Lauren Callan
Admin Position:
Parish Secretary
Admin Address:
Telephone:
Fax:
01932 354523
Admin Email:
Mailing Address
Driving Directions to Our Lady Help of Christians
Travel/Directions Tips
The Church of Our Lady Help of Christians is situated in West Byfleet. We are in Madeira Road, opposite to the West Byfleet Health Centre, close to West Byfleet station.
By car
The A245 leading from the A3 at Cobham passes through the centre of West Byfleet en route to Woking. Coming from either direction, turn down Station Approach at the traffic lights (Barclays, Lloyds, Waitrose corner). Madeira Road is the first road to the left, and our church is less than 100m along on the right hand side, opposite to the West Byfleet Health Centre 3-storey building.
By train
Alight at West Byfleet station. Head up Station Approach Road (on the eastern side of the station, opposite to the ticket office). Madeira Road is the first road on the right, about 100m from the station. The church is less than 100m along, on the right hand side, opposite to the three storey building where the West Byfleet Health Centre is located.
West Byfleet is served by South West Trains. Trains run regularly to/from London Waterloo, Woking and Alton. More information please access http://www.southwesttrains.co.uk/.
By car
The A245 leading from the A3 at Cobham passes through the centre of West Byfleet en route to Woking. Coming from either direction, turn down Station Approach at the traffic lights (Barclays, Lloyds, Waitrose corner). Madeira Road is the first road to the left, and our church is less than 100m along on the right hand side, opposite to the West Byfleet Health Centre 3-storey building.
By train
Alight at West Byfleet station. Head up Station Approach Road (on the eastern side of the station, opposite to the ticket office). Madeira Road is the first road on the right, about 100m from the station. The church is less than 100m along, on the right hand side, opposite to the three storey building where the West Byfleet Health Centre is located.
West Byfleet is served by South West Trains. Trains run regularly to/from London Waterloo, Woking and Alton. More information please access http://www.southwesttrains.co.uk/.
Parking
Our Lady Help of Christians West Byfleet Mass Times
Sunday Masses:
Saturday 6pm (Vigil Mass)
Sunday 9.15am (includes Children's Liturgy) and 11am
Weekday Masses:
Monday: 7pm
Tuesday: 10am
Wednesday: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament from 10am to 10pm
Thursday: 10am
Friday: 10am
Saturday: 10am (12 noon on the first Saturday of the month)
Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confessions): Saturdays after Morning Mass and 5pm or by appointment
Holy Days of Obligation: 7pm
Mass Times last updated on the 11th of May, 2023
Saturday 6pm (Vigil Mass)
Sunday 9.15am (includes Children's Liturgy) and 11am
Weekday Masses:
Monday: 7pm
Tuesday: 10am
Wednesday: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament from 10am to 10pm
Thursday: 10am
Friday: 10am
Saturday: 10am (12 noon on the first Saturday of the month)
Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confessions): Saturdays after Morning Mass and 5pm or by appointment
Holy Days of Obligation: 7pm
Mass Times last updated on the 11th of May, 2023
Worship Languages
Dress code:
Children and Youth Activities
Under 12s:
Under 18s:
Local outreach & community activities:
Other activities & ministries
Special Needs/Accessibility:
Prayers and hymns:
Main Bible:
Hymns and Songs:
Other information:
Average Adult Congregation:
Average Youth Congregation:
Additional Info:
Schools
Primary School
Marist Primary School
Old Woking Road
West Byfleet
KT14 6HS
Head: Mrs Kate Licence
Tel: 01932 344477
Fax: 01932 352642
http://www.marist.surrey.sch.uk/
Secondary School
St. John the Baptist Catholic Comprehensive School
Elmbridge Lane
Kingfield
GU22 9AL
Head: Ms Ani Magill
Tel: 01483 729343
Fax: 01483 727578
http://www.sjb.surrey.sch.uk/
Primary School
Marist Primary School
Old Woking Road
West Byfleet
KT14 6HS
Head: Mrs Kate Licence
Tel: 01932 344477
Fax: 01932 352642
http://www.marist.surrey.sch.uk/
Secondary School
St. John the Baptist Catholic Comprehensive School
Elmbridge Lane
Kingfield
GU22 9AL
Head: Ms Ani Magill
Tel: 01483 729343
Fax: 01483 727578
http://www.sjb.surrey.sch.uk/
Our Lady Help of Christians Photo Gallery
Our Lady Help of Christians History
History
The 1800's
The villages of Byfleet and Pyrford were essentially agricultural centres - 'West' Byfleet was part of Byfleet Common, which was enclosed and divided into large estates in 1801. The Byfleet Manor house - now much reconstructed - has historical connections with the Black Prince and later with Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon.
In about 1840 the rail line from Waterloo was developed - leading to the creation of Woking as it now is. West Byfleet Station - initially 'Byfleet and Woodham Station', was only opened in 1887 and much of the development in West Byfleet dates from that time.
1900-1919
The few Catholics living in the area before the First World War attended services either at Weybridge, or at the Woking Mission Church built in 1899 (St Dunstan's church was built in 1925). In 1917 a number of Belgian war refugees settled in the Byfleet area and the first Mass was said in that year by Father Christians van Aspert, a Belgian priest attached to the Woking Mission. The first services were in a small temporary building in Madeira Road - on land that had been originally nursery and orchards; the building was leased from the local builders Tarrants, and was eventually sold to the parish in 1935 for £100.
1919-1939
The church served as a chapel of ease after the departure of Father van Aspert in 1919, but from 1923 Father Plummer was coming from Woking to say Sunday Mass (sometimes relieved by a Salesian priest from Chertsey) after which the Church would be closed until the following Sunday. This continued, with some expansion of the original 'temporary' building, until 1935, when Father Plummer announced that West Byfleet was to be established as a separate parish - the first parish priest being Father Loader, who had served in a machine gun unit during the First World War. He remained with the parish until just after the outbreak of World War II, being succeeded in November 1939 by Father Sullivan.
1939-1972
On the day that Father Sullivan arrived he was told that two Marist Sisters and a number of children had arrived at West Byfleet station, having been evacuated from their school in Fulham. This led to the establishment of the Marist School in Sheerwater Road.
The 'temporary' wooden church - by now painted green, continued to undergo ad hoc expansion but by the early 1950's the church was packed to capacity with late comers having to look through the windows! A building finance committee was established in 1954 and in remarkably short time the foundation stone of the new church of Our Lady Help of Christians was laid by Bishop Cowderay of Southwark on the 10th December 1955 with the first services in October 1956. Also in 1954 a second priest was assigned to the parish. The wooden building became the parish hall and survived until the construction of the present hall in 1982. In May 1965 the Southwark Archdiocese was divided, and West Byfleet became part of the new diocese of Arundel and Brighton.
The parish grew rapidly with the development of new housing estates in Byfleet, Sheerwater and Pyrford - and Masses were being said in the Sheerwater Community Centre, and in the Binfield Hall in Byfleet.
These pressures soon led to the opening in 1961 of the St John the Evangelist Church in Sheerwater (closed at the end of 1995) and in 1973 the church of St Thomas More was completed. This was shortly after the retirement of Father Sullivan at the end of 1972 after some 33 years - including service as a fire-warden for Madeira Road during World War II.
1972-1999
Father Sullivan was succeeded in October 1972 by Father Reynell, who supervised the implementation of changes and spiritual renewal introduced following Vatican II. The high altar in the church was replaced by the altar facing the people, and the pulpit removed - and novelties were introduced into the liturgy - such as Offertory Processions and the Kiss of Peace. He also oversaw the planning for the new parish hall, handed over to the parish in November 1982.
Father Reynell left us in September 1982, being succeeded by Father James Maguire.
Father Maguire also served the parish for almost 10 years, being followed in August 1992 by his curate Father Peter Edwards, who administered the parish during the interregnum. A little more than a year later, in September 1993, Father Jerry O'Brien took over as parish priest.
Father Jerry was with us for 6 years, leaving for Chichester in September 1999 - at the time of his arrival, we lost the second priest, leading to the closure of our third church, in Sheerwater. During his ministry, the Church roof was insulated and the upper windows double-glazed, so that for the first time services were not interrupted by passing trains! The porch in front of the church was built creating sheltered space for a repository and notice boards - previously the church door opened directly onto the pavement. The cost of the sound insulation and the new entrance porch were covered in part by the proceeds from the closure of the Sheerwater church.
A Parish Project was initiated in 1997 - each year the parish decides on 2 charities to support with special collections, one in the UK and one abroad. UK Charities have included the Cardinal Hume Centre, the Woking York Road project for the homeless, Woking Mind, The Passage and Age Concern. Our overseas donations have led to the construction of classrooms and a dispensary in Itaka, Tanzania. In 2013 our two charities are Itaka in Tanzania and LinkAble (formerly Link Leisure) in Woking - actively supporting people with learning disabilities.
Father Dominic McIlhargey was with us from September 1999 until November 2000.
2000-to date
After a few weeks, we welcomed Father Anthony Hale C.P., who joined us to administer the parish just before Christmas 2000. Father Anthony was with us for nearly 13 years, leaving the parish in September 2013.
At the end of September 2013 we welcomed Monsignor Malachy Keegan as Parish Priest. Monsignor Malachy was with us for nearly four years, leaving the parish in May 2017.
In June 2017 we welcomed Father Alex Hill as our Parish Priest.
Mass attendance in 1917 was 12, by 1981 this had grown to 1051 in 3 churches with two priests. By 2004 we had just one priest and 2 churches - with assistance on a Sunday from a visiting Salesian priest from Chertsey - and a mass attendance of 741 .
St Thomas More Church in Byfleet was closed with last mass being said in 2006. In 2017 we have the one church in West Byfleet with average mass attendance of 650.
The 1800's
The villages of Byfleet and Pyrford were essentially agricultural centres - 'West' Byfleet was part of Byfleet Common, which was enclosed and divided into large estates in 1801. The Byfleet Manor house - now much reconstructed - has historical connections with the Black Prince and later with Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon.
In about 1840 the rail line from Waterloo was developed - leading to the creation of Woking as it now is. West Byfleet Station - initially 'Byfleet and Woodham Station', was only opened in 1887 and much of the development in West Byfleet dates from that time.
1900-1919
The few Catholics living in the area before the First World War attended services either at Weybridge, or at the Woking Mission Church built in 1899 (St Dunstan's church was built in 1925). In 1917 a number of Belgian war refugees settled in the Byfleet area and the first Mass was said in that year by Father Christians van Aspert, a Belgian priest attached to the Woking Mission. The first services were in a small temporary building in Madeira Road - on land that had been originally nursery and orchards; the building was leased from the local builders Tarrants, and was eventually sold to the parish in 1935 for £100.
1919-1939
The church served as a chapel of ease after the departure of Father van Aspert in 1919, but from 1923 Father Plummer was coming from Woking to say Sunday Mass (sometimes relieved by a Salesian priest from Chertsey) after which the Church would be closed until the following Sunday. This continued, with some expansion of the original 'temporary' building, until 1935, when Father Plummer announced that West Byfleet was to be established as a separate parish - the first parish priest being Father Loader, who had served in a machine gun unit during the First World War. He remained with the parish until just after the outbreak of World War II, being succeeded in November 1939 by Father Sullivan.
1939-1972
On the day that Father Sullivan arrived he was told that two Marist Sisters and a number of children had arrived at West Byfleet station, having been evacuated from their school in Fulham. This led to the establishment of the Marist School in Sheerwater Road.
The 'temporary' wooden church - by now painted green, continued to undergo ad hoc expansion but by the early 1950's the church was packed to capacity with late comers having to look through the windows! A building finance committee was established in 1954 and in remarkably short time the foundation stone of the new church of Our Lady Help of Christians was laid by Bishop Cowderay of Southwark on the 10th December 1955 with the first services in October 1956. Also in 1954 a second priest was assigned to the parish. The wooden building became the parish hall and survived until the construction of the present hall in 1982. In May 1965 the Southwark Archdiocese was divided, and West Byfleet became part of the new diocese of Arundel and Brighton.
The parish grew rapidly with the development of new housing estates in Byfleet, Sheerwater and Pyrford - and Masses were being said in the Sheerwater Community Centre, and in the Binfield Hall in Byfleet.
These pressures soon led to the opening in 1961 of the St John the Evangelist Church in Sheerwater (closed at the end of 1995) and in 1973 the church of St Thomas More was completed. This was shortly after the retirement of Father Sullivan at the end of 1972 after some 33 years - including service as a fire-warden for Madeira Road during World War II.
1972-1999
Father Sullivan was succeeded in October 1972 by Father Reynell, who supervised the implementation of changes and spiritual renewal introduced following Vatican II. The high altar in the church was replaced by the altar facing the people, and the pulpit removed - and novelties were introduced into the liturgy - such as Offertory Processions and the Kiss of Peace. He also oversaw the planning for the new parish hall, handed over to the parish in November 1982.
Father Reynell left us in September 1982, being succeeded by Father James Maguire.
Father Maguire also served the parish for almost 10 years, being followed in August 1992 by his curate Father Peter Edwards, who administered the parish during the interregnum. A little more than a year later, in September 1993, Father Jerry O'Brien took over as parish priest.
Father Jerry was with us for 6 years, leaving for Chichester in September 1999 - at the time of his arrival, we lost the second priest, leading to the closure of our third church, in Sheerwater. During his ministry, the Church roof was insulated and the upper windows double-glazed, so that for the first time services were not interrupted by passing trains! The porch in front of the church was built creating sheltered space for a repository and notice boards - previously the church door opened directly onto the pavement. The cost of the sound insulation and the new entrance porch were covered in part by the proceeds from the closure of the Sheerwater church.
A Parish Project was initiated in 1997 - each year the parish decides on 2 charities to support with special collections, one in the UK and one abroad. UK Charities have included the Cardinal Hume Centre, the Woking York Road project for the homeless, Woking Mind, The Passage and Age Concern. Our overseas donations have led to the construction of classrooms and a dispensary in Itaka, Tanzania. In 2013 our two charities are Itaka in Tanzania and LinkAble (formerly Link Leisure) in Woking - actively supporting people with learning disabilities.
Father Dominic McIlhargey was with us from September 1999 until November 2000.
2000-to date
After a few weeks, we welcomed Father Anthony Hale C.P., who joined us to administer the parish just before Christmas 2000. Father Anthony was with us for nearly 13 years, leaving the parish in September 2013.
At the end of September 2013 we welcomed Monsignor Malachy Keegan as Parish Priest. Monsignor Malachy was with us for nearly four years, leaving the parish in May 2017.
In June 2017 we welcomed Father Alex Hill as our Parish Priest.
Mass attendance in 1917 was 12, by 1981 this had grown to 1051 in 3 churches with two priests. By 2004 we had just one priest and 2 churches - with assistance on a Sunday from a visiting Salesian priest from Chertsey - and a mass attendance of 741 .
St Thomas More Church in Byfleet was closed with last mass being said in 2006. In 2017 we have the one church in West Byfleet with average mass attendance of 650.
Our Lady Help of Christians Historical Photos
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