The Parish is led by the Parish Priest, Fr Martin Boland.
THE PARISH PRIEST
Fr Martin was born in Glasgow, Scotland but moved with his family to London as a child. He attended Our Lady of Victories Primary School, South Kensington and the London Oratory Secondary School. After school, he did his degree at the University of St Andrews. During this time, he felt the calling to be a priest and applied to the Diocese of Brentwood.
He was accepted by Bishop Thomas McMahon and sent to train for the priesthood at the Venerable English College, Rome. On the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, 14th September 1996, he was ordained to the priesthood at St Edmund of Canterbury Church, Loughton.
He served as an assistant priest at SS Peter and Paul’s, Ilford, Our Lady of Lourdes, Leigh-on-Sea and our Lady of Lourdes, Wanstead. He was then appointed chaplain to the University of Essex and parish priest of St.Sabina’s, Brightlingsea and St Monica’s, Wivenhoe. In 2009, he was appointed as the Dean of Brentwood Cathedral. In 2023, he was appointed as parish priest at Our Lady of Lourdes, Wanstead.
In December 1917, at the invitation of Fr O’Grady, the Sisters of Mercy, opened their convent in Cambridge Park, the stables being converted into a temporary Church.
Later, the foundation stone of Our Lady of Lourdes Wanstead was blessed by Arthur Doubleday, the then Bishop of Brentwood, in July 1927.
The Church has been sustained by the people of God here in Wanstead for 100 years. Long may the faith continue to grow and thrive here.
Photos used are copyright and property of Our Lady of Lourdes Wanstead and Greg Gumbrell
© 2024 Our Lady of Lourdes | Privacy Policy
