Church of St William of York

The Church of St William of York in Stanmore, on the north-western edge of London, is a Roman Catholic parish church built in the mid-twentieth century. It stands on Du Cros Drive in the borough of Harrow and is a Grade II listed building, the second tier of heritage protection in England. It suits anyone interested in post-war church architecture and in the history of Catholicism in London's suburbs.

How did the parish begin?

The parish of St William of York was founded in 1938 and grew out of a Dominican mission. At first there was no church of its own. On weekdays Mass was said in the chapel of the nearby Dominican sisters' convent, and on Sundays in the hall of the neighbouring St Thomas's school. That bond with the Dominican sisters remains part of the parish's identity today.

Why did the building take so long?

The Du Cros Drive site was bought for a church in 1939, but the war and the building restrictions that followed delayed the project. Work could only begin after building licences ended in 1954. A house for the parish priest was built first, in 1955. Construction of the church itself started on 5 October 1959, and the foundation stone was laid on 7 June 1960. The church was completed around 1960 and registered for worship the following year.

Who designed it?

The architect was Hector O. Corfiato, born in France and working in Britain. The builders were C. P. Roberts and Co. of Holborn, London. The church belongs to the era before the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, and heritage descriptions stress that it has survived little altered, which makes it a valuable example of its period.

What to know before visiting

• This is a working church, so plan around service times and keep noise down.
• The sanctuary holds icons of St William of York and St Catherine of Siena, reflecting the parish's Dominican roots.
• The surroundings are a quiet, green suburb, so a visit pairs well with a walk around Stanmore.

Frequently asked questions

Who was St William of York? A medieval Archbishop of York, and the patron of the parish and church.

Is the church a listed building? Yes, it is Grade II listed, a status given to buildings of special architectural or historic interest.

When was the present church built? Between 1959 and 1960, to a design by Hector O. Corfiato.

What is the link with the Dominicans? The parish grew from a Dominican mission, and its first services took place in the chapel of the Dominican sisters' convent.

Where exactly is it? On Du Cros Drive in Stanmore, in the London Borough of Harrow.

Can visitors go inside? It is an active parish church, so it is best to visit outside service times or to attend a service.