St Thomas of Canterbury RC Church Grays

The Catholic Mission of Grays began in 1862. Fr.Gilligan had charge of two poor missions, Barking and Grays, a closed-up shop and the altar a deal table. The vestments were described as unfit for use. Accommodating only 40 people in the "chapel". The congregation started growing due to the development of the docks. It was a very poor mission. In 1885 Fr. Keens writes about his chapel in a disused butcher's shop in Argent Street. Our Church was begun in April 1886, constructed by local builders in record time. October 12th the same year, it was opened by Cardinal Henry Manning, second Archbishop of Westminster. The parish has grown to a diverse and active parish, with priests and people working together to build up the faith in this small part of the Lord's vineyard. St.Peter's Church in Stifford Clays was opened in 1959. Last year we had the highest number of baptism in the whole diocese.