Catholic nerd pilgrimage: Most Holy Trinity Dockhead

Looking at Catholic churches in London, there were two churches named “Holy Trinity” (or something close to that). I picked the one that was more accessible by public transport and dragged my kids to the 6p Mass, which, it turned out, was the shortest Sunday Mass I’ve ever attended at 37 minutes long, thanks, largely, to the fact that there was no music at all.

Most Holy Trinity Dockhead was established as a mission church in a chapel in South London which was destroyed in anti-Catholic riots in 1780. A replacement church was built in 1837–8 during the era of Catholic emancipation in England, but destroyed during wartime bombing (in a bomb attack which also killed three resident priests) and replaced by the present building, built in 1957–60.

The view of the front of the church, which is a Grade II listed building. It has a facade of patterned brick with twin bell towers and a tall window over the main entranceThe sanctuary as visible from my pew. There is a canopy suspended over the altar and on the back wall, the Holy Trinity symbol with “Deus” at the center, with paths reading “est” leading out to “Pater”, “Filius” and “Spiritus Sanctus” that are on a circle, all joined by “non est.” Behind the altar are a triptych of pictures showing Jesus in the manger, healing a sick man (or maybe raising Lazarus?) and rising from the dead.


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