In 1880, a mission to the local Catholics of Brixton was started by Rev. Henrik van Doorne, a priest from Flanders who had lived in England for many years. He bought a house in the area, for £2,610, so that it could become a chapel. In 1885, John Francis Bentley was asked to design a larger church for the area. He recommended that Bethel House, a large on the corner of Brixton Hill and Horsford Road, be bought so that a church can be built on the site. The house was bought for £3,550. On 14 July 1886, the Bishop of SouthwarkJohn Butt laid the foundation stone.[3]
Construction
On 12 June 1887, the church was opened by the bishop. As there was a lack of funds, only the chancel and two chapels and a sacristy was built. In 1904, the transepts of the church were added.[3]
Later history
In 1902, Corpus Christi Primary School was built at the back of the church, on the land that was previously occupied by Bethel House.[3]
On 23 July 2005, the Jesuits handed back the administration of the church to the Archdiocese of Southwark who continue to serve the Parish.
Parish
As the church was not completed, there is capacity for about 300 people inside, although the building's capacity does seem larger from the outside. It has five Sunday Masses to accommodate the congregation. There is one Mass at 6:00pm on Saturday evening, at 8:30am, 10:00am and at 12 midday on Sunday, and the last one at 6:00pm on Sunday evening. There are weekday Masses at 10:00am from Monday to Saturday and evening Masses on Tuesdays and Fridays at 7pm.[2]HM Prison Brixton is within the Parish boundary, with Priests from the Parish saying Mass for the inmates and staff on Saturdays at 9.15am.
The Parish has a relationship with Corpus Christi School whose mission statement states that 'We are here to educate our children to the highest possible standard in a community which has the
Gospel values, traditions and beliefs of the Catholic Faith at the centre of its ethos.'[4]
