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 1994; £1.5m construction project for Trinity HighÕs Keswick House, consisting of 10 classrooms, offices and the Ratcliffe Hall dining hall. |
One of the greatest successes of the parish, which fitted closely into the ideals of the founding Dowager Duchess, was the expansion of Catholic Education in the Woodford area. Butler's Education Act of 1944 completely reorganised state education and soon made its impact felt on St. Antony's School. From its formation until 1946, St. Antony's had been an all age elementary school but, from September of that year, all senior children of both sexes who had not qualified by means of examination at age 11 for admission to selective schools,were automatically transferred to St. George's Secondary School at Walthamstow. The effect on Catholic education in the area was parlous and led, in 1950, to the formation of one of the most powerful pressure groups ever instituted in the parish, the c.p.e.a; the Catholic Parents and Electors Association. They immediately adopted a high profile, not only on general educational issues, but in an attempt to rationalise and develop Catholic education in the area. The c.p.e.a.. received tremendous help from the Franciscan community: extra land was given by the Fathers to St. Antony's School for its enlargement and, in September 1958, the Friars considered the selling of the Montclair site for the new secondary modern school of St. Paul's. In 1959 the Montclair site was sold to the diocese at a very reasonable cost and following the efforts of Monsignor J. Howell, vicar general and parish priest of Chingford, St. Pauls Catholic Secondary School was opened in January 1960 using temporary accommodation in the Dominican Convent, Chingford while the new school building on the Montclair site was being constructed.
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 1955: First year class photograph, St. Mary's Grammar School, Mornington Road, Woodford Wells. |
Monsignor J. Howell was the first Chairman of Governors and Fr. Howard Doherty ofm was vice-chairman. in September 1964 the new secondary modern school opened its doors. The c.p.e.a. were also instrumental in the development of the convent school in Mornington Road. In 1945 this had been placed on the list of schools recognised by the Ministry of Education and became known as St. Mary's Grammar School. Due to the efforts of the c.p.e.a. the new Grammar School obtained aided status. The need, however, to establish a long term solution to Catholic Education 11-18 continued and reached its climax in September 1976 when St. Mary's Grammar School (Mornington Road) and St. Paul's Secondary Modern (Sydney Road) were merged into the new Comprehensive Trinity Roman Catholic School. The Franciscan and parish community were generous in their support of the c.p.e.a. and the Diocese of Brentwood, not only in a pecuniary fashion, but being involved on the governing boards and in pastoral work in these local schools.
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 1994: St. Antony's Primary School. Woodford Wells. |
After 1976 the Franciscans began searching for a long term solution to the building problems at St. Antony's. By the mid-1980's they had won Diocese and d.e.s. approval for new buildings which were opened in 1991. By 1985, according to a parish newsletter, the contribution by St. Thomas of Canterbury to Catholic education was "over £12,000 a year apart from any special expenditure". The parish, however, was not only involved in schools but in continuous Catholic education on a general basis such as the renewal programme, as well as talks and lectures.
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 1986; Fr. Brian McGrath ofm, along with pupils, celebrates the annual outdoor service of the Crowning of Our Lady's statue at St. Antony's. |
The c.p.e.a. was active in organising talks and events such as Any Questions? programme at Hawkey Hall, consisting of a panel comprised of Father Agnellus Andrew and two local M.P.'s. In Autumn 1962 the c.p.e.a. arranged talks on "Knowing Your Church", 1963, "On the Education of Catholic Parents" and in 1966, "The New Jerusalem Bible". Franciscans from the House of Studies at Canterbury also came to deliver a series of talks: in 1952 a visiting speaker talked on Contemporary Christianity in France: Lenten and Advent lectures and sermons became common whilst the "Faith" movement met in the homes of parishioners under the aegis of one of the Friars making use of "Faith Alive" pull-outs from the Universe. Brentwood Religious Education Service has also visited the parish and there have been constant programmes on catechesis, the liturgy, bereavement and parenting.