A Visitor's Guide to Holy Cross - The Parish of Greenford Magna

The Parish of Greenford Magna
A Visitor’s Guide to Holy Cross
the Old Church, the New Church,
the Rectory, the Edward Betham School,
their histories and their environs
The Parish Church of The Holy Cross
Ferrymead Gardens, Greenford,
Middlesex

Contents page
1. An Historical Background to Greenford Magna 1
2. Map of the Former Middlesex 1
3. Map of the Area round the Church Including the Station 2
4. Greenford Life 3
5. The Parish of Greenford Magna 7
6. Architectural Introduction to the Old Church 8
7. A Brief Guide to the Interior of the Old Church 9
8. A Plan of the Old Church 9
Stone Font 10
Pulpit 10
Coston Memorial 10
The Edward Betham Plaque 11
The Chancel Arch 11
The Gardiner Memorial 12
The Stained Glass 12
The Piscina 12
9. The List of Rectors 13
10. The Reserved Sacrament 13
11. The Old Church Today 14
12. The Reserved Sacrament 14
13. The Holy Cross Bells and Bell Tower 15
14. Architectural Introduction to the New Church 16
Population Growth 16
The Cambridge Connection 16
Church Plate 17
15. The Banners of the Instruments of the Passion 17
16. The Stations of the Cross 17
17. Tapestry – The Earth is the Lord's 18
18. Laid-up Colours and Standards 18
19. Home Guard Memorial 18
20. Book of Remembrance 18
21. The Holy Cross Churchyard 19
22. The Rectory and Benefice Land 19
23. Edward Betham and His School 20
24. A Church of England Parish 22
25. Various Policies 22
26. Christian Nurture and Education 23
27. The Records and Archives 24
28. List of Articles Stolen or Damaged 24
29. The Invention and Exaltation of the Holy Cross 25
5th edition, 2005
The Rector and Churchwardens acknowledge with thanks the original research of Peter and Frances Hounsell
which made the production of this booklet possible.
1

Introduction
An Historical Background to
Greenford Magna
Greenford today is a large suburb in the London Borough of Ealing, but for most of its history, Greenford has
been a tiny village with a very small population, isolated from surrounding areas and finding a living in labour
on the land.
People have lived in Greenford since at least 845 AD when there is a reference to Grenanforda in an Anglo-
Saxon charter, in which the land was exchanged between Abbot Werhard and Werenth the Thane. The name
indicates a place where the River Brent could be forded, or crossed, amidst green fields. The Manor of
Greenford was given by King Ethelred to the Abbey of Westminster and this was confirmed in 1066 by a
charter of King Edward the Confessor. At the dissolution of the monasteries, the land was appropriated to the
Diocese of Westminster in 1540, then the Diocese of London in 1550. The first priest whose name we know
was Henry of Bayeux, who was instituted as parson of Greenford and Hanwell in 1183 by Gilbert Foliot, 56th
Bishop of London. From 1326, we can trace a continuous list of Rectors, starting with Radbert de Saleby.
The Domesday Book of 1068 AD notes that the land of Greenford Magna belonged to the Abbot of
Westminster, but does not mention a Church or a Priest. A Chapel was in existence in Greenford by 1157. It is
not clear, however, when the first Church building was erected. Parts of the fabric of the existing "old" Church
date from the 15th century, but these may well represent the rebuilding of an earlier structure rather than a
completely new building. The discovery in the 1930's of a 14th century piscina in the wall of the chancel tends
to support this interpretation.
The fact that the Church was named The Holy Cross might indicate that a relic of the true cross was placed in
this Church at the time of its earliest consecration.
Old Middlesex
2

Greenford today with the position of the Churches arrowed
3

Greenford Life
Life in early Greenford revolved around the annual work of agriculture. Communication with the surrounding
area and the wider world would have been through cart tracks and bridle ways. Travel would have been in the
direction of Oxford to the west, Harrow to the north, and in particular, east towards Westminster, where
presumably, the Abbot's tithes were taken from time to time. To the south of Greenford, the journey to
Isleworth would have been alongside the River Brent which is a tributary of the Thames. Once there,
Greenford people were eventually connected to the Pool of London and from thence, to the oceans of the
world.
Life in the village of Greenford must have remained fairly unadventurous and self-contained for several
hundreds of years. Little by little, the influences of the outside world were to change all that. During the early
Tudor period, a new Porch was added on the south face of the Church indicating the presence in the village of
both wealth and interest in the Church.
Greenford people must have been aware of the decades of religious turmoil in the
16th century. In 1534, King Henry VIII asserted his royal supremacy over the
English Church and in the following year, Sir Thomas More and Bishop John
Fisher were both executed. In 1536, Henry ordered the execution of Queen Anne
Boleyn on a false charge of adultery, because she failed to produce a male heir to
the throne. Ironically, Anne was the mother of the future Elizabeth I, one of
England’s greatest monarchs. By 1539, Henry had arranged for the Dissolution of
the Monasteries and the fabric of English life was changed forever.
Towards the end of his life, it became clear that Henry was to be succeeded by a
10 year-old son, Edward VI, and England was plunged into a 6 year Regency, during which Protestant voices
were increasingly heard by those in power. Under their influence, the appearance and theology of the Church
of England became increasingly distant from the theology and practice of Rome. It was during this period that
the first Masses in English were heard in English churches, following the authorisation of Prayer books in 1549
and 1552. The first Rector of Greenford Magna to say Mass in English would have been Henry Thornton,
Rector from 1528-1554.
When close to death, King Edward’s advisors persuaded him to name Lady Jane Grey, a cousin, as his
successor. She reigned for just 6 days before there was a successful legal challenge from Mary, who became
Queen Mary I and immediately restored the Roman Catholic Church. John Feckenham, Rector between 1554
and 1556, was caught up in the great controversies, retaining loyalty to the Roman Catholic Queen Mary I. He
resigned as Rector of Greenford on his appointment by Queen Mary as Abbot of the newly re-established
Abbey of St. Peter in Westminster. When Queen Mary died in 1558 and was replaced by her half sister Queen
Elizabeth I, many churchmen hoped for a restoration of relationships with the Pope. John Feckenham was
imprisoned in the Tower from 1563-68 after speaking out against Queen Elizabeth’s supremacy in the Church.
Despite the cruelties of the time, the reign of Queen Elizabeth I was a time of settlement and expansion,
lasting for 44 years until 1603. The times saw a flourishing of the arts and sciences. Shakespeare wrote his
plays which were performed on the stage of the Globe Theatre at Bankside in Southwark. Michael Gardiner,
who was Rector at this time, would have been the first Rector to use the new King James translation of the
Bible when it became available in 1611.
During the 17th century, England was again shaken by political and religious turmoil and the execution of
royalty. In 1642, a major Civil War broke out across the country and in 1649, King Charles I was beheaded
and the Church disestablished. It was to be 11 years before the restoration of the Monarchy in 1660. During
most of this 11 year period, Oliver Cromwell ruled as Lord Protector and the country was governed as a
Commonwealth. Edward Terry, who became Rector in 1629 simply remained in place, losing his official title
from 1649 until 1660, when he resumed it until his death in 1661.
4

In the 18th century, the Revd. Edward Betham, Rector from 1769-1783 founded a Charity School which still
exists, bearing his name. Succeeding Rectors are ex-officio Governors of the School and Trustees of the
Betham Trust which administers the fund set up by Betham. The Annual Parochial Church Meeting elects
members of the congregation as Foundation Governors of the School, thereby ensuring close links between
Parish Church and School.
During the 18th century, church life generally in England became increasingly moribund. The rural
communities, such as Greenford, were slowly disintegrating as changes to the agricultural way of life led to
increasing numbers of labourers leaving the countryside and seeking employment in the rapidly growing
towns. Combination Laws were used to prevent labourers from working together to claim decent wages and
conditions of work. In the cities, new technology was bringing dramatic developments as mills, foundries,
factories and mines created new wealth and a newly rich class of people.
The social system was collapsing as increasing numbers of people became poverty-stricken and life became
brutal and nasty. The Churches were unready and ill-equipped for dealing with such changes. In Oxford in
1729, a group of young theological students formed themselves into a group, later called Methodists, and they
eventually took up the challenge to bring Christianity and political ideas to the poorer people of the towns and
cities.
In 1804, the Paddington Arm of the Grand Junction Canal
was cut through Greenford, linking it both with the Midlands
and with central London. From this beginning, Greenford
slowly changed from a rural backwater to a place of industry
and housing. Starting with the first artificial dye works in
England along the canal side, Greenford was destined to
attract many major companies looking for space to develop
outside the cramped conditions of old London. The canal
was used to transport coal from the Midlands and
agricultural produce to Central London. Bricks made in
nearby Hayes would pass through Greenford on their way
to major building programmes in the area. The Grand
Junction Canal forms part of the northern parish boundary
today.
This process continued in 1904, when the Great Western Railway Company opened Greenford Station and
provided a rail link to Ealing and the Paddington terminal. Suburban housing was built in the years before the
Great War and building continued during the 1920s and 1930s. In the 1930s, many more people moved to
Greenford. The hay fields rapidly became the streets in which were built houses for this influx of people,
attracted by employment with Hoover, Aladdin, Rockware, Sandersons, J. Lyons and other famous names.
Most of this housing is in the traditional semi-detached style and subsequent decades have seen further house
building programmes, and this is likely to continue into the 21st century, space permitting. Council houses and
flats are fewer than the owner-occupied and there are no tower blocks in Greenford.
These developments produced a population growth from less than 1,200 in 1921 to 15,000 in 1931. Several
schools have been built in Greenford over the past 60 years, to join the Edward Betham School, in response to
the demands for education.
The 19th century brought many changes to life in England. In the Church of England, the preaching in 1833 of
the Assize sermon by John Keble and the publication in 1841 of Tract 90 by John Henry Newman led to a reawakening
within the Church of England of its proper place within the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.
This was followed by moves to restore to the liturgy many of the practices and rituals of the Catholic Church
which had been abandoned in the years following the Reformation, such as the wearing of vestments, altar
5

crosses and candles, processions, incense and Confession. Even in such a back-water as Greenford, Holy
Cross Church was caught up in this movement and by 1923, Rector Thomas Scrutton (Rector 1923-1934) was
quoted in the Middlesex Gazette describing himself as a moderate Anglo-Catholic. Certainly, by the time of
Rector Donald Harris (1936-1945), Holy Cross was at the forefront of Catholic liturgical practices and a centre
for new clergy who would come to Greenford as a training parish. At its hey-day, Greenford Magna had a
Rector and six curates, all living in the Rectory!
It is said that during the time of Rector Ronald Dix (1945-53) his learned brother and liturgical scholar, Dom
Gregory Dix, was trying out many new ideas in liturgy at the newly built Holy Cross Church, some of which,
like The Peace, are now commonplace activities in parish churches around the country.
6
In 1947, the Central Line was extended to
Greenford en route to Ruislip, and Central
London became even more accessible for
commuting. Nowadays, it is possible to be in
Oxford Circus in 45 minutes via the Central
Line, or if you prefer, to drive in the opposite
direction and be in Oxford in 45 minutes.
Two new roads were built to provide access for
the rising population. The Western Avenue and
Greenford Road were built from green fields. In
the past 20 years, there have been two major
road upgrades which have affected Greenford.
In the 1970s, the A40 was widened and a flyover made to ease the flow of traffic east and west, in and out of
London and to Oxford and beyond. The Greenford Road was widened to take the bigger flow of traffic and give
better access in a north-south direction. The original village lane, Oldfield Lane, was dissected by the A40,
provided with an underpass and now seems tiny in comparison with its noisy neighbours.
The continuing expansion of Heathrow
airport provides Greenford residents with
many job opportunities only 30 minutes
away.
Holy Cross Church is found just south of
the A40 at the junction of Ferrymead
Gardens and Oldfield Lane South. The
immediate area around the Church is
quiet and residential. To the north of the
A40 is the industrial area and to the
south, the Greenford shopping area
known as Greenford Broadway. This
reflects the three hamlets which made
up the old village, with Greenford Green in the north, the area around the River Brent in the south, and the
church in the centre, but quite distant from either extremity.
All the mainstream Christian denominations have churches in Greenford. There is a mixture of modern
buildings, reflecting the history of the suburb. The Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady of the Visitation is just
south of the Greenford Broadway, on Greenford Road. Greenford Baptist Church is in Beechwood Avenue.
Greenford Methodist Church is on Ruislip Road West. The Salvation Army Citadel is on Coston's Lane, at the
junction with Greenford Road.

In 1998, the Church of St. Edward, King and Confessor, then a daughter-church of the Parish, was joined by
the Perivale Park United Reformed Church in a newly refurbished building and a new church on Suez Avenue
on the Medway Estate. The two congregations are now worshipping together and moving towards a unified
Christian presence on the Medway estate under the name of The Holy Trinity and since June, 2005, in the
parish of Perivale.
Greenford, like other parts of the London Borough of Ealing, has seen a significant change in its population
over the past 40 years, in line with general migration patterns. It has a substantial population from overseas,
drawn from Asia, Africa, the Caribbean and Europe. Since the expansion of the European Community in May
2004, migrants from the new accession countries and especially Poland have found their way to Greenford in
significant numbers. These and other demographic changes have produced a suburb and a Borough with a
wide variety of cultures and religions. Many people of other world faiths live in Greenford, but until recently, the
only place of worship for other world faiths here was the Synagogue. Due to declining number of Jewish
residents in Greenford, the Jewish community de-commissioned their Synagogue on Sunday, 23rd January,
2000 and on Sunday 5th November, 2000, the building was re-opened as the Shree Jalaram Mandir (London),
a Hindu Temple. There is a wide range of Mosques, Mandirs and Gurdwaras to visit in nearby Southall.
Greenford has greatly changed since its early
beginnings. As the population grew in the 1930s,
the ancient Parish of Greenford Magna – with the
highest population in the land at that time – was
divided into three separate parishes. In the north,
a new parish was formed with the building of All
Hallows Church. In the south, the southern parts
of Greenford were joined with parts of Southall to
form Christ the Redeemer Parish. Even so, the
Parish Church was still too small for the
population, so in 1939 the Rector and
parishioners undertook to build a New Church.
The problems they experienced were immediately exacerbated by the declaration of war against Germany.
After a faltering start, the project was successfully completed to a design by Sir Albert Richardson, and with
the magnificent result visible today. The Old Church is listed by English Heritage as Grade I and the New
Church as II* making these buildings not only special to the people of Greenford, but giving them a special
place in the heritage of the nation.
Holy Cross Old Church and New Church are used by the congregation and people of Greenford in a variety of
ways today, reflecting modern thinking about church buildings. The Old Church is chosen when the number
attending a service is expected to be less than 100, and the New Church is ideal for larger gatherings, such as
the Midnight Mass of Christmas and Education Sunday. Weddings look lovely in either setting.
The Parish Room at the rear of the New Church building is used regularly by Holy Cross Play Group, the 1st
Greenford Guides and Brownies and private individuals may hire it for parties and receptions. In 1976, during
the time of Rector Malcolm Smart (1975-1982), the Chancellor of the Diocese of London ruled that the New
Church was a dual-purpose building, thereby permitting the Rector and Wardens to allow its use for secular
purposes such as dances, theatrical productions, fairs, parties, concerts and the like. The church has taken full
advantage of this provision, using the New Church for Barn Dances, Christmas Craft Fayres, Pancake Races,
Parish Parties, Pantomimes, International Food evenings and many more community events. Since 1997,
Capital Concert Brass Band (formerly the Hanwell Band) has made its home within the Church and uses it for
regular rehearsals.
7

Since the 1990s, the old altar area of the New Church has been transformed into a stage for Community
Pantomimes, in which Scouts, Guides, congregation members and friends of the church have combined to
produce very successful and well-attended amateur performances, many of which are written by local people.
In the New Church, the visitor will be impressed by 10 Banners of the Instruments of the Passion of Our Lord
Jesus Christ, designed and executed in batik by Ginette Gillard specially for the church in 1989. In addition,
there are 14 Stations of the Cross, specially designed and created for the church in 1996 by Cate Templeton.
Both Ginette Gillard and Cate Templeton are local Greenford people (although Cate has now returned to her
native Scotland) and it is a particular pleasure to house such striking and original works of art by local artists.
It is planned to try to protect and enhance the Old Church porch with glazing in the future, hopefully with
artistic designs which will be pleasing for this and succeeding generations.
The general use of the New Church makes it a busy and happy centre of community life, and the congregation
welcome this, despite the extra cleaning it creates! The people of Greenford value both the Church buildings
and the Christian faith which they represent. Times change. Our vision of life changes. Our use of the building
changes too. But underneath it all lies our faith in the love of God which Jesus Christ died on the Holy Cross to
proclaim.
The Parish of Greenford Magna
is a constituent parish of the Church of England and in the Diocese of London.
Everyone who lives within the legal borders of the parish or who are enrolled on the
Church Electoral Roll have access to their parish church and are entitled to the
services of the clergy. Members of the Electoral Roll elect a Parochial Church Council
annually, to lead the mission of the Church with the Rector and Churchwardens.
The congregation is made up of those people who present themselves on Sunday
mornings, and everyone is welcome to participate in worship, social activities, study
groups, and all other activities, including children's activities, no matter what their
background, and no matter at what point on the journey of faith they find themselves.
New people are frequently welcomed and quickly find place within our parish life, finding for their skills and
gifts a satisfying and fulfilling outlet.
The New Church arranged for a panto production
8

Architectural Introduction
to the Old Church
Of the 237 Middlesex churches surveyed by
the London and Middlesex Archaeological
Society in 1982, Holy Cross Old Church is one
of only 30 which may be described as
medieval, due to the origin of the main fabric.
The Old Church has been rebuilt and altered
many times in its long history. It is not sure
when the first structure was erected but there
are traces of 14th century work in the present
building. At the end of the 15th century the
church was rebuilt and the oldest surviving
parts of the present building date from this
period. These are the nave, the porch and the
timbers which support the tower at the west
end. The building is constructed of stone and
an exterior facing of flint was added in the
1870s. The roofs of the nave and chancel are
tiled whilst the tower is covered with cedar
shingles.
In the 17th century, the chancel was rebuilt
and Commandment Board was hung over the
chancel arch. It is possible that the gallery was
built at the same time.
In 1871, a major alteration was made when the
chancel arch was taken down and rebuilt as it
is today, leaving the old timbers visible. Tiles were laid on the nave floor.
In 1913, the tower was substantially restored.
The last major restoration took place in the 1950s after the Church had been closed and considered for
possible demolition in the light of the New Church which had been completed in 1941. Following this work, the
church was re-consecrated in 1956.
In 2001, substantial remedial work was undertaken to check the effects of the roof in pushing the walls
outwards.
9

A BRIEF GUIDE
TO THE INTERIOR
ENTER BY THE 16th CENTURY PORCH
(see the plan below)
The Porch (1)
In the past, the Church porch was used for public and official
business such as exchanging marriage vows and for
elections, and it is still used for posting notices. Note the roof
bosses depicting the three nails and five wounds of the
crucifixion – suitable for a Church named The Holy Cross.
The doorway is in the perpendicular style and although
wearing away it has some interesting carving between the
arch and the square head.
Plan of the Old Church
10

IN THE NAVE
Originally, it was custom for churches to have no seating. Pews were introduced by the 17th century. Holy
Cross has had two sets of pews, both now removed (one set is now in St. Mary, Northolt) and in the 1950s,
chairs were installed as part of the renovations. At this time, the panelled ceiling was removed, revealing the
oak timbers.
The Stone Font (2)
The font is dated 1638 and was the gift of Frances Coston, the oldest
daughter of Simon Coston. The oak font cover was stolen during the
1980s.
The Pulpit (3)
The present pulpit was constructed from part of the 1930s oak screen.
The rail from this screen is now above the chancel arch as part of the
rood. The Rood and the Shrine to the Blessed Virgin Mary were added
at the time of the 1950s restoration work.
The Coston Memorial (4)
The memorial is to Bridget, wife of Simon Coston, and depicts the five daughters and baby son, John, who is
being suckled by his mother. Bridget died at the age of 36 in 1637. The monument is signed by H & M Moyer.
The monument was subjected to the theft of the two oldest daughters in July, 1996. Replicas were installed in
1997.
11

Edward Betham Plaque (5)
Note the Plaque mounted on the south wall, commemorating the gift of money by Rector Edward Betham
(1769-1783) and the foundation of his Charity School, now the Edward Betham Church of England Primary
School (also see page 20).
AT THE CHANCEL
The Chancel Arch (6)
1780
EDW D. BETHAM
Rector of this Parifh, built a Charity School
with a Houfe for the Mafter & Miftrefs
& endowed it with £1600 Bank Stock.
£10 part of the Dividends to go towards
Cloathing Ten Poor aged Men & Women
of this Parifh, who fhould attend
the Sacrament on Xmafs Day:
£30 to the Mafter for Instructing 30
Poor Boys & Girls, to Read, Write,
Caft accompts, & Know the Principles
of the Xtian Religion;
the Girls to be Taught alfo
to Work, Sew and Knit;
£30 in Coals for the School;
Other part in Cloathing the Children,
& the Remainder in Repairing
the School & Houfe, & in buying
Spelling,-Prayer-Books, Teftaments, &c.
Inroll’d in Chancery Nov.16 th. 1780
The original arch was repaired and substantially replaced in 1871. A plaque on the wall commemorates the
work.
The 17th century Commandment Board was removed and now may be seen as part of the reredos behind the
altar. The altar rails are 17th century and the badly vandalised brass candelabra has the inscription:
The gift of Arthur Boldero of Brentford to the parish of Greenford Magna in Middx. April, 1709.
Simon Ravenor Yeoman then Churchwarden
12

The Gardiner Memorial (7)
In the chancel, also note the excellent memorial to Michael Gardiner (Rector 1584-1623) and his wife,
kneeling.
On the chancel walls and floors, there are also memorials to other former Rectors including John Castell
(1661), Thomas Barrow (1804) and Arthur Beard (1874), as well as some notable parishioners including
William Millett (1663), the Terry family (1665), members of the Ravenor family, and Capt. & Mrs. Bennett
(1856).
The Stained Glass in the Chancel
The stained glass in the Chancel is mostly from King's College, Cambridge, and was installed in 1925. The
glass is 16th century and mostly heraldic, incorporating the arms of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon as well
as those of Eton College and King's College. There are some fragments of Flemish work dating from the 14th
century, including the head of a tonsured clerk or religious and the head of a saint.
The Piscina (8)
Rediscovered in 1934, the 14th century piscina or wall basin would have been used in the cleansing of the
sacred vessels of the Mass. This piscina indicates further the original foundation date of the building.
Alongside the piscina is another recess in the wall, possibly used to house the Holy Oils.
List of Rectors of the Parish (9)
Note the list of Rectors from 1326 AD until the present day
on the north west wall of the nave. The gap between 1649
and 1660 represents the period called The Commonwealth.
In 1649, King Charles I was beheaded and the Church
disestablished. During this period, Oliver Cromwell declared
himself Protector of England, Scotland and Ireland and ruled
until his death in 1658 when his son Richard took over until
the restoration of the monarchy in 1660. The Reverend
Edward Terry who appears as Rector from 1629-1649 and
again in 1660, was the same person, who simply resumed
his official post as Rector with the re-establishment of the
Church of England in 1660 after the Protectorate of Oliver
Cromwell was ended.
13

Rectors of Greenford
In 1183, Henry of Bayeux was appointed Rector of Greenford and Hanwell by Gilbert Foliot,
56th Bishop of London. Thereafter, it is possible to trace Rectors of Greenford continuously from 1326.
1326 Radbert de Saleby 1649
1330 Richard de Norton 1660 Edward Terry
1363 John de Coringham 1661 John Castell
Walter Palmer 1686 Mathias Earbery
1383 John Lynton 1688 John Delahay
1386 John Catelin 1730 William Campbell
1390 John Seyntin 1769 Edward Betham
1401 John Ringbell 1783 William Paddon
1407 Stephen Lathe 1797 John Maule
1409 Robert Halstead 1804 Thomas Barrow
1410 John Smith 1822 Edward Polehampton
John Wrastlingworth 1830 Henry Slingsby
1418 John Chandler 1832 John Tomkyns
Simon Hert 1849 J.C. Middleton
1452 Thomas Wegge 1874 Arthur Beard
1473 Henry Aynesworth 1890 Henry Biscoe
1489 Gregory Wat 1912 W.H. Ogle-Skan
Thomas Symond 1915 Edmund Swain
1518 Thomas Cotton 1923 Tom Scrutton
1528 Henry Thornton 1934 Cecil Clarke
1554 John Feckenham 1936 Donald Harris
1556 Thomas Barnard 1945 Ronald Dix
1558 Robert Cosen 1953 Frank Towndrow
Thomas Thornton 1962 Brian Oman
1560 William Whitlock 1975 Malcolm Smart
1584 Michael Gardiner 1982 Neil Richardson
1629 Edward Terry
Father Donald Harris
Rector from 1936-1945, under whose leadership the Holy Cross New Church was planned and constructed
despite the added problems and constraints of wartime
14

The Old Church Today
Continuity of worship
In continuity with its 600 year history, the Old Church is still used for prayer and worship daily. There is a
pattern of worship which includes said Masses at 7am and Morning Prayer. Precise details are published in
the porch and newsletter.
The church seats about 100 people and is a favourite setting for weddings, and for funerals. It is very popular
for special occasions such as the Christmas Carol Service.
Both the Churches are frequently visited by school children from various local schools, in search of material for
their studies in Religious Education and Local History.
Reservation of the Blessed Sacrament
When the New Church was re-ordered in 1978, the practice of reserving the Sacrament in that church was
discontinued and from that date the Blessed Sacrament has been reserved in the Old Church in an Aumbry in
the Chancel, just beneath the Gardiner Memorial (7). There is a light burning permanently to alert the visitor to
the presence of the Blessed Sacrament and to symbolise the Light of Christ.
There are two reasons for reserving the Blessed Sacrament.
First, it is to make the Church a place for the adoration of Jesus Christ in the Sacrament of the Mass. His Real
Presence continually inspires the Church to devotion and Christian endeavour.
Secondly, those who are sick or dying may receive the Holy Communion from the Reserved Sacrament, thus
uniting them with the whole congregation who met on the previous Sunday to celebrate the Mass.
It is customary to observe respect for the Blessed Sacrament.
15

The Bells and the Bell Tower
The first Christian writer to mention bells frequently was called St. Gregory of Tours (c. 585). Tours is a town in
the north west of France. Bells were used a lot in Ireland from the 6th century. The famous bell of St. Patrick is
said to survive in Dublin. Bells were used in Scotland from the 6th century and in England from the 7th
century. They came into general use in English Churches in the 8th century. From this time, bells were always
blessed by a Bishop and splashed with Holy Water and anointed with the Oil of Chrism. This was called the
Baptism of Bells.
Church Bells are rung for a variety of reasons, including:
a) drawing attention of parishioners to the start of The Mass;
b) marking important national occasions, such as a Coronation, or victory in a battle;
c) bells are tolled (rung solemnly and slowly) to mark the death (or passing) of a parishioner or the start of a
funeral service (hence the phrase passing bell);
d) for the ringing of The Angelus – a special prayer to remind people of the Incarnation of Jesus. Other prayers
are also associated with the ringing of bells;
e) in some Churches, the bell is rung when the priest elevates the Host and the Chalice in the Eucharistic
Prayer so that the whole neighbourhood knows what is happening.
Bells were housed in specially designed towers, Campaniles, and these could either be added on to the end of
a Church or built separately, but nearby.
The Holy Cross Bell Tower
Holy Cross tower is built on to the west end of the Church. It is a
wooden-framed and clad tower, supporting the bell turret. The oak
bell-frame dates from the 15th century.
The Holy Cross Bells
a) the largest (5 cwt 1 qr) by William Culverden, c. 1510, has the
Latin inscription: Sancta Anna ora pro nobis which means in
English: Saint Anne pray for us
b) an undated bell (2 cwt 3qrs) from the 15th century
c) bell (3cwt 2qrs) dated 1699 by William Eldridge I of Chertsey
The oaken bell frame is 500 years old. It is thought that it was made
in the carpenter's workshop, dis-assembled and carried into the
tower, before being re-assembled in the tower.
Change ringing is not possible at Holy Cross. The Tower must be
very strong to withstand the vibrations and swaying which the bell
sound produces. Our Tower was built long before the invention of
Change ringing, and so we must be satisfied with just striking the bells.
The Tower is electrically lit but to visit Holy Cross Bell Tower requires climbing two ladders without safety rails.
It is also very dusty!
The wearing of trousers is advised for ladies.
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Architectural Introduction
to the New Church
Population growth
Due to the huge increase in the population of Greenford
during the 1920 and 30s, it was decided to build a New
Holy Cross Church. Fortunately, it was also decided to
retain the Old Church, rather than demolish it in favour
of the new. The Foundation Stone (in the external wall
on the south east corner) was laid by the Provost of
King's College, Cambridge, in the presence of the
Bishop of London on 10th July, 1939, and despite the
onset of the war against Germany, the church was
completed and opened two years later. Legally, the
New Church is regarded as an extension of the Old
Church, which bears the same name, although licensed
separately for Holy Matrimony.
The New Church stands at right angles to the Old Church. It was designed by Professor Sir Albert Richardson
who already had associations with the parish due to his involvement with the renovations of the Old Church.
The architect had recently visited Nieuwe Kerk in The Hague, and had been inspired by the timber roof beams.
The shape of the New Church resembles that of a Tithe Barn with its low walls and large roof. Inside, the roof
is supported by large red pine timbers from British Columbia.
The New Church interior was originally designed in the traditional way with a High Altar in the Chancel and
rows of chairs in the nave. The original furnishings on the altar included six huge candles and a Tabernacle,
backed by a massive red back drop. In 1976, the Rector and Churchwardens successfully petitioned the
Chancellor of the Diocese for a Faculty to re-order the interior as it is today. At the same time, the New Church
was declared a dual-purpose building and this makes it possible for it to be used for plays, dances,
entertainments and social events.
The Cambridge Connection
The reason for the Provost of King's College, Cambridge, being involved with the Foundation Stone of the
New Church is that King's are the Patrons of the
Living of Greenford Magna. In the case of the Parish
of Greenford Magna, the Advowson, or legal right to
present a priest to the Bishop for Institution as Rector,
is owned by the Provost and Fellows of King's
College, Cambridge. Private Patronage is still valued
in the Church of England as it provides for a variety of
ways in which appointments can be made, thereby
avoiding an over-prescriptive use of authority by the
Bishops. In the past, private patronage has sheltered
some excellent priests who would otherwise have
fallen foul of the prevailing, but uncongenial climate of
opinion in the Church.
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The Church Plate
The Banners of the Instruments of the Passion
Among the plate, there is a Charles I chalice with a very deep bowl
and a paten with a foot. There is a pair of Restoration flagons and an
alms dish, given by their second son Michael in memory of Rector
Michael Gardiner and his wife Margaret in 1640. The Processional
Cross is a French altar crucifix c. 1630-40 with the figure of Jesus
backed by a small image of Our Lady.
See a separate booklet for details of these banners, designed and executed in batik
by Ginette Gillard, a local Greenford artist.
They were dedicated on Palm Sunday, 1989, in memory of Edie Ede, a member of
the congregation. They are the third set of banners to be hung in Holy Cross New
Church, the first being designed by the Revd. Anthony Mapplebeck, a former curate,
and the second being designed by Miss E. Barrett, when she was the Head Teacher
of Betham Infants in the 1950s.
The Instruments of the Passion are a traditional depiction of the betrayal, arrest, trial
and humiliation of Jesus before his eventual crucifixion.
They start on the south west wall of the Church and go round clockwise. Ginette
Gillard also designed and made the four altar frontals which complement the
banners.
The Stations of the Cross
See a separate booklet for details of the Stations which were installed in the
Church on Palm Sunday, 1996, and designed and made by Cate
Templeton, a local Greenford artist. They were purchased by donations from
members of the congregation. Cate Templeton used colours and designs in
the Stations which are sensitive to the Banners above them. The Stations
start on the south east wall of the New Church and go anti-clockwise.
Stations of the Cross are hung in most Churches of the Roman Catholic
Faith and Church of England Churches with a Catholic tradition. They were
intended to bring into every local parish church in Christendom the chance
to experience a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in the imagination.
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Tapestry – The earth is the Lord's
This tapestry, planned as a triptych, was made by many members of the congregation and friends of the
Church. It was made in three sections. The first consists of 64 individual squares of 6 inches and was installed
in 1992. The second was added in the Millennium year, 2000, and a third in 2003. The unpredictable variety of
the project has resulted in a pleasing and interesting ornament for the Church.
Laid-up Colours and Standards
In the south east corner of the Church, there are laid-up Standards of various Greenford organisations, such
as the Boys' Brigade, the 1st Greenford Guides, The Royal British Legion and the Greenford Home Guard.
Home Guard Memorial
Carved into the stone floor at the entrance to the nave in the New Church is a memorial to the Greenford
Home Guard. It is one of very few such memorials to civilian participants in the war effort.
It reads:
Book of Remembrance
THE LANTERNS BY THE SOUTH DOORS
PERPETUATE THE MEMORY OF THE
GREENFORD HOME GUARD
1940-1945
+ Lucerna pedibus meis verbum +
tuum: et lumen servitus meis.
PSALM 119: VERSE 105
In the New Church there is a Book of Remembrance of
those Greenford men who died in the Great War (1914-
1918) and in the Second World War (1939-1945). The
names are also carved on the Greenford War Memorial at
the junction between Oldfield Lane South and Ruislip Road.
Every Remembrance Sunday, the Rector of Greenford
Magna leads a special Service of Remembrance with the
clergy of other local churches, at which the members of the
Greenford Branch of the Royal British Legion parade. Also
attending are the Deputy Mayor, local Councillors, the
Member of Parliament for Ealing North, Scouts and Guides
and many members of the public.
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The Holy Cross Churchyard
The Churchyard contains headstones from four centuries, the oldest being a series near the south porch.
None of the graves have spectacular headstones or monuments but a number have surviving footstones.
Unfortunately, the ravages of weather and atmospheric pollution have combined to erode the stones leaving
inscriptions difficult or impossible to read. Some of the headstones are marked with the skull and crossbones.
This is a memento mori, or a reminder of death. It was a device common in days gone by to remind those who
look down on the graves of others of their own ultimate mortality, an encouragement to make the most of life,
God's gift, while you still have it!
There is a headstone in memory of Rector Edward Betham and
members of his family in the graveyard on the north side of the Chancel.
Many of the stones appear unsightly and unattended. Responsibility for
upkeep of the graveyard lies with the Parochial Church Council and
volunteers are welcomed in the task of tending it appropriately. The
graveyard is full and is no longer used for purposes of burial of bodies.
The New Church was built on land which had originally been used as a
graveyard.
In 1979, the Bishop of Willesden consecrated a special area of the churchyard for the burial of cremated
human remains.
The Rectory and Benefice Land
The present Rectory, situated on the north side of the Church, was built in 1875, replacing a Tudor building.
There are no known photographs or drawings of the older parsonage. The Rectory site was halved in the
1960s with the sale of the land containing paddocks alongside the A40, and the building of Fairlight Court
which is representative of a utilitarian and graceless design style.
The Rectory is spacious, with airy rooms and hallways. The house was built with 6 main bedrooms and 2
bedrooms for servants. In the 1960s the house was internally divided and the servants' quarters are now a
self-contained maisonette.
The entrance porch and wall alongside Oldfield Lane are older than the Rectory. After the sale of land for
development of Fairlight Court, the remaining Benefice land abuts the Churchyard on the south side and
includes the land on which, by permission of the Rector, is sited the 9th Greenford Scout Hut. The garden has
some good mature trees, but has suffered from tree disease and also from the scant time available for
gardening in the life of a busy Rector with a working wife. In the 1940s, the Rector had 6 curates and
employed a live-in Housekeeper, Cook and Gardener full-time!
Along with the Churches and Churchyard, the Benefice land is the freehold property of the Rector, duly
Inducted and Instituted. The Parson's Freehold is a feature of Church of England life. Incumbents, as they are
called, have legal security of tenure until they resign or reach their 70th birthday, unless Inducted before 1974,
when their freehold is limited only by their death. The General Synod of the Church of England is preparing to
change the terms and conditions of clergy in the future and Parson’s Freehold may one day disappear.
At Holy Cross, the Rectory garden is available for Church and Community use, by permission of the Rector.
20

Edward Betham and His School
In 1780, The Revd. Edward Betham, Rector of Greenford Magna, built a Charity School with house for the
master and mistress and endowed it with £1600 Bank Stock...
Nobody seems to know why. He was never married, had no children, and came from a privileged echelon of
society. He gave the money for the education of poor boys and girls, which on the face of it, was a very farsighted
thing to do in the 18th century.
Edward Betham was born into a clergy family in 1709. His father was the Rector of Silchester, near
Southampton. Edward was educated at Eton College and in 1728, went up to King's College, Cambridge. In
1731, he became a Fellow of King's and, for some time, Bursar. He was an antiquarian and a collector.
In his Will, he also bequeathed money for the maintenance of the Botanical garden in Cambridge and £700 to
pay for a life-size statue of Henry VI which was sculpted by Bacon and now stands in Eton College Chapel.
From our point of view in Greenford, it is his generosity in giving money to found his school, and also to help
poor elderly people, which is our main interest. The Betham School House is on the east side of Oldfield Lane
at 164 Oldfield Lane South. The original school was increased in size by the addition of two wings.
In 1876, Betham School became an Elementary Public School in accordance with the Education Act of that
year. In 1878, it became a residence for the Head, and the children moved into a new Victorian school built to
provide better facilities. This building, known as the Clock School, was eventually expanded several times and
then, administration of the school passed into the hands of the Local Authority.
In 1928, Coston School opened with 401 pupils, the first of a series of new schools built to meet the ever
growing demand from the growing population.
In 1939, as the Second World War began, Betham school was taken over by the Home Office for Civil
Defence purposes.
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The original school building was sold by the Trustees in 1974, and is now divided into 3 separate houses,
privately owned. The capital raised by the sale was used to buy the buildings formerly known as Coston
School for boys, and this opened in 1975 as Betham Middle School, joining the Betham First School in
providing Church education for local children from 4-12 years of age.
In 1993, the London Borough of Ealing reorganised its education system and the former Betham First and
Middle Schools were united under one Head Teacher as The Edward Betham Church of England Primary
School, with a Nursery class, educating about 450 children from 4-11 years of age or from Nursery to Year 6.
The advantages of such a generous benefactor as Edward Betham were evident in 1995 when two brand new
classrooms were opened to give more space for modern educational work, and £60,000 of the cost was
provided by the Betham Trustees, using the interest from the original bequest of Edward Betham.
In 2001, a large contribution from the Trust was made to support the building of a new classroom for housing a
network of computers for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) education.
You may read 2 plaques concerning the foundation of the school. One is in English in the Old Church on the
south wall of the nave. The other is in Latin on the wall of the original school house. It is visible from the road
at 164 Oldfield Lane South.
It reads:
translation
AD PAUPERUM PUEROS To the poor children
RELIGIONIS RUDIMENTIS rudiments of religion
IMBUENDUM FUNDATAS to teach the fundamentals
Has AEDES D.O.M.D. this building is dedicated
to God, the best, greatest
E.B. MDCCLXXX Edward Betham 1780
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A Church of England Parish
Baptism Policy
The parish has an Open Baptism policy in which we welcome families with small children without prior
conditions. Preparation for Baptism takes place prior to the ceremony which is normally during the Parish
Mass, our principal worship on Sunday mornings. Where there is sufficient pastoral cause, Holy Baptism may
be held at other times. Adults are welcomed for Baptism and are normally baptised, after preparation classes,
as part of a broader initiation ceremony which includes Confirmation, with the Bishop.
Confirmation
Young people of 11+ are prepared for Confirmation annually, and the Confirmation takes place in June. Adults
who wish to consider Confirmation are prepared in small groups and where adults have not been baptised, the
Baptism takes place during the Confirmation service.
Weddings at Holy Cross
The Old and New Churches are very popular
for Holy Matrimony and the clergy are willing
to officiate for all those who qualify legally,
either by reason of residence within the
parish borders or through membership of the
Parish Church’s Electoral Roll. The Church of
England wishes to witness to the sanctity of
marriage, and those who come to Holy Cross
Church are understood to be undertaking a
life-long union. But the reality of divorce
cannot be ignored, and so we welcome for
marriage those who have been divorced and
whose former spouse is still living.
Funerals in the Church and at the Cemeteries and Crematoria
The clergy willingly officiate at the funerals of all those who had lived in the parish, whether or not they
attended church. These days, mourners frequently require quite elaborate funeral services and since the 20
minutes allocated to a service at the Crematorium is not sufficient time for a personal approach, it is
particularly appropriate for funeral services to be in the church, prior to cremation or burial elsewhere.
23

Christian Nurture and Education
There is age-appropriate educational activity for several age groups. See “This is Holy Cross…” leaflet for
more details.
The Crèche
For children of 0-5 years old, the Crèche is provided, but run by parents and other
volunteers in the Parish Room, starting at 9.30am. Parents who take advantage of
the Crèche are expected to take a turn on the rota.
Chris…Cross group
Christian Education at Holy Cross, or Chris…Cross for short, is available during term time for children from
5-12. This group also depends on volunteer parents, who work with the clergy to provide age appropriate work
often on the same theme as the adults are following in The Parish Mass. Towards the end of the service, the
children come into church and show the adults what they have been doing.
Cross-Over group
Cross-Over meets on Sundays in term time at 5pm in the
New Church, and continues the Chris…Cross approach but
with rather more systematic detail suitable for Junior School
aged children. The children enjoy talking, drawing, writing,
quizzes, drama and the session includes refreshments and
games. Occasional visits are made to places of interest and
visitors come to teach the children about their expertise.
Adult Study
In addition to the groups which are preparing for Confirmation, the congregation is invited to join study and
discussion groups regularly, including the annual Lenten study groups. A detailed programme is published to
allow members of the congregation to plan their involvement.
The Parochial Church Council (PCC) devolves much of its work to Committees, on which may be found both
PCC members and congregation members. The Committees meet to plan and execute parish activities in
such areas as Education, Worship, Social events, Pastoral matters, looking after the buildings and
Stewardship of our resources. These Committees are places of learning, discussion, planning and cooperation,
in which the church benefits from the skills of the congregation which are valued highly.
Liberal Catholic?
The Church has what is called a Liberal Catholic tradition which means that we recognise the riches of the
Catholic heritage of faith as well as the riches open to us in the Reformed tradition. We also wish to interpret
the Christian faith in the light of continuing modern insights. Our worship is marked by the traditional symbols
of Catholic Christianity such as vestments, bells and incense, linking us, via the Tractarian movement, with the
pre-Reformation Church of England.
24

What Does the Future Hold for Us?
Put simply, the future will be good for the Christian Church and for Holy Cross Church because we put our
faith in God. In these days of self-reliance and individualism, we seek to balance the needs and gifts of
individuals on the one hand with the support and opportunities of the community on the other. At Holy Cross,
we know that the community is important for people of all ages, and we want to take our part in developing
community life.
At Holy Cross, we believe that local people will grow to value the sense of community which they may find
through our church. Through their participation, members of the congregation will find friends and companions
on the journey of faith, and a place where their children will learn the truths of Christianity, sensitively
interpreted, both in Church and in the Edward Betham Church of England Primary School. Witnessing to this
faith is part of our Christian life. The Old Church is a reminder of the long search for God, standing as it has for
over 600 years in this quiet corner of Greenford.
We also believe that working for more co-operation with people of other Christian churches is a sign of hope
for the future.
We hope that at Holy Cross, the congregation will be comforted in times of sorrow, challenged to live up to the
best Christian values for themselves and for society, and discover the love of God as revealed to us through
Jesus Christ. In the Spirit of God, we all seek to grow in a human maturity which has the love of our Creator as
its centre.
The Records and Archives
Parish records of Baptism, Marriage and Funerals start in 1539. The originals remain in the Church but will be
placed in the Greater London Records Office in due course.
Minute Books of Parochial Church Council Meetings and other parochial meetings are kept in the Church,
along with the Log Books of the Betham School.
Past issues of the Parish Magazine go back as far as the 1940s and are kept in the Church. The Parish
Archivist (contactable via the Church) will be happy to assist enquirers.
Articles Stolen or Damaged
Thornton Brass from the floor by the main doorway 1920s
Good Shepherd Window removed 1989
Victorian wood surrounding aumbry ripped off 1989
2 oak benches in Sanctuary stolen 1990
Oak cover for the Coston font stolen 1987
Christ figure ripped off Christus Rex (now renovated)
Coston Memorial – two figures removed 1996
Candelabra in Chancel – broken arms on several occasions (now renovated)
Various other articles damaged by casual vandalism
The Parochial Church Council regrets that the Churches are now always kept locked except when attended
and at times of public worship, to prevent further loss or damage.
25

The Legend of the Holy Cross
After the burial of Our Lord Jesus Christ, owing to the speedy approach of the Jewish Passover, there was not
time to burn the cross and other instruments of execution, as was usually done on account of their
uncleanness. Instead they were thrown into a hollow beneath the ledge where the execution had taken place,
and hastily covered over.
Every effort was made by the authorities to extirpate Christianity, and to further this end, the Emperor Hadrian
in 136 AD ordered the hill of Calvary and the Holy Sepulchre to be covered with earth and a heathen temple
erected on the site, hoping thereby to remove all landmarks associated with the Crucifixion and Resurrection.
It was in 326 AD that the dowager Empress Helena, the Christian mother of Constantine, went on pilgrimage
to Jerusalem and after due enquiry caused the site to be unearthed. There she found the three crosses, the
superscription and the nails. The finding (Invention is the Latin word) was proclaimed throughout the Empire
by the Emperor and is vouched for also by St. Cyril who was living in Jerusalem at the time. There was great
jubilation throughout Christendom and fragments of the Cross were conveyed by the Emperor's orders to
almost every country for honour and veneration. The largest part, the upright, was preserved at Jerusalem in
the Church of St. Helena (335 AD). In the year 614, however, Chosroes II, King of Persia, sacked Jerusalem,
killing 90,000 Christians, and took the Holy Relic to Persia.
It was recovered by the Christians and set up (Exaltation) once more, amid world-wide rejoicings, in Jerusalem
in 629 AD.
Our Church, built to the honour of the Holy Cross, may observe both festivals, the Invention on May 3rd and
more especially the Exaltation, on September 14th.
St. Helena
CIMA da Conegliano
Italian painter, Venetian school (b. ca. 1459, Conegliano, d. 1517/18)
In art, St Helena is dressed in imperial regalia and holds a large cross.
26