ROMAN CATHOLICISM.
Only one recusant
was reported at Chiswick in 1577. (fn. 50) Five recusants in 1628 included Sir William Foster,
Edward Leigh, and William Saunders. (fn. 51) Leigh
and Saunders were later described as gentlemen
and they or members of their families thereafter
were repeatedly indicted until 1640. (fn. 52) The three
papists listed in 1706 included Sir Richard
Beeling or Bellings, who stayed only during the
summer months (fn. 53) and who in 1711 leased the old
prebendal manor house from Sir Stephen Fox. (fn. 54)
A Mr. Thompson and his two servants were
listed as recusants in 1708, (fn. 55) as were Sir Richard
Beeling, his family, and seven other men c.
1714. (fn. 56)
Late 18th-century Roman Catholics included
Henry Widdrington (d. 1774) of Turnham
Green, heir of the attainted Jacobite William,
Lord Widdrington (d. 1743), (fn. 57) Charles Tempest,
a Jesuit who died at Chiswick in 1768, (fn. 58) and John
Towneley of Corney House, who had a chapel
there in 1791. (fn. 59) From 1799 local children were
taken for baptism to Brook Green, Hammersmith, from where Chiswick continued to be
served until 1848. (fn. 60)
An influx of Irish labourers, many of them
gardeners, led to the opening of a day school and
chapel in Windmill Place, Turnham Green. (fn. 61)
The building, of 1848, was attended by 200
worshippers in the morning and 70 in the evening
on census Sunday 1851, when its upper storey
accommodated the schoolmaster and mistress. (fn. 62)
The mission was said to serve over 1,000 in 1852,
when it also used a small chapel in Acton, (fn. 63) and to
be the poorest in the diocese in 1855. The Acton
chapel, dedicated to Our Lady of Grace, had
closed by 1856 (fn. 64) and the Turnham Green mission
was known as St. Mary's by 1858. (fn. 65) Its successor
and other Roman Catholic places of worship are
described below.
St. Joseph's, Grove Pk., originated in services
at no. 1a Bolton Rd., bought c. 1944 (fn. 66) as chapel of
ease to Our Lady of Grace and St. Edward. (fn. 67) Red
brick building with pantiled roof on adjoining
site, seating 200, (fn. 68) registered 1961. (fn. 69)
St. Mary's church opened 1864 (fn. 70) on land
bought by 1855 at W. corner Duke's Ave. and
Chiswick High Rd., (fn. 71) replacing Windmill Place
chapel. Low building in Gothic style, with
sanctuary to S.; demolished 1885. (fn. 72)
Our Lady of Grace, on site of St. Mary's and
known as Our Lady of Grace and St. Edward by
1903, (fn. 73) registered 1886. (fn. 74) Attendance 1903: 864
a.m.; 392 aft. (fn. 75) Deep red brick bldg. in Italianate
style, with sanctuary to S., by Kelly & Birchall.
Campanile added as war mem. c. 1936; restoration after war damage 1955. Seated 400, 1978. (fn. 76)
Chiswick Ho. oratory blt. by marquess of
Bute, tenant, c. 1881. (fn. 77)
Sisters of Mary Immaculate acquired no. 10
Chiswick Lane as Regina Pacis convent 1968.
Kindergarten opened 1969 and hall added
1972. (fn. 78)
Sisters of Nazareth apparently acquired St.
Veronica's retreat, Chiswick Sq., between 1911
and 1913. Renamed Nazareth House until
sisters' (fn. 79) move to Finchley 1921. (fn. 80)
Sisters of Perpetual Adoration occupied
Tower House, no. 4 Chiswick Lane, as convent
of Marie Réparatrice, c. 1901-51. (fn. 81) Adoratrices
(? same community) registered ground floor
of no. 34 Barrowgate Rd. as convent chapel
1963-71. (fn. 82)
Sisters of Verona acquired no. 4 Chiswick
Lane 1951, added wing 1959, and used it as
order's training centre 1978. Girls' hostel and
nursery school opened at no. 2 Chiswick Lane
1951. (fn. 83)
St. Veronica's retreat by 1893-4 in former
Boston Ho., Chiswick Sq., (fn. 84) which had been
acquired 1889 by Cardinal Manning and other
trustees, (fn. 85) was conducted by Revd. Robt. Clarke
1900. Probably replaced by Sisters of Nazareth
c. 1912. (fn. 86)