A Catholic congregation in Tunbridge Wells is marking a milestone: the 50th anniversary of the church building they constructed after their original place of worship was demolished to make way for a supermarket.
St Augustine’s Catholic Church on Crescent Road is holding a week of events to honour the sheer determination and community spirit that led to its current home. The celebrations reflect on the years of planning battles and intensive fundraising that followed the compulsory purchase of their historic site.
The parish priest, Father Graziano de Palma, highlighted the anniversary as a tribute to the community’s enduring generosity.
“This celebration is fundamentally about the people, not just the bricks and mortar,” Father Graziano explained to local reporters. “We are honouring the commitment of the Catholic community in creating this new place of worship. It serves as an identity for Catholics and a clear beacon of hope for everyone in Tunbridge Wells.”
The journey to the new building was long and difficult, beginning with the loss of a cherished landmark and requiring the faithful to pull together against significant odds.
From Grosvenor Road to ‘St Tesco’s’
The original St Augustine’s, a cornerstone of the town’s Catholic community, had stood on Grosvenor Road since its construction in 1838. For well over a century, it was a familiar and much-loved sight.
However, the rapid commercial development of the town in the mid-20th century sealed its fate. The church was acquired by the council, demolished, and the site cleared for the construction of a large supermarket. That space is now occupied by a Tesco store.
The disruption left the congregation without a dedicated place of worship.
In a move that defined their resilience and sense of humour, the parishioners secured a temporary location for their services. This space was situated directly above the newly built supermarket. This highly unusual setup quickly earned the temporary church a friendly, local nickname: ‘St Tesco’s’.
Despite the amusing nature of the location, the space was never a long-term solution. As the local Catholic population grew, the room above the supermarket became too small, forcing the community to seek a new, permanent and much larger sanctuary.
The Mammoth Effort to Rebuild
Finding a new site and raising the funds necessary for a large, modern church was an undertaking that took years. The community faced substantial bureaucratic roadblocks and needed extraordinary financial commitment.
A Difficult Land Search
The first hurdle was finding available land in the busy Kent town. The eventual site on Crescent Road was only secured thanks to the great generosity of a local lady who had bequeathed her house and land to the parish, providing the perfect foundation for the new structure.
But the fight wasn’t over. Securing planning permission proved to be an exhausting process. The church leaders and building committee had to submit an astonishing seven separate planning applications before they finally got the official go-ahead from the local authorities to begin construction. This lengthy administrative battle speaks volumes about their refusal to give up.
The Power of Generosity
Once permission was granted, the financial challenge began. The congregation launched a massive, determined fundraising drive throughout the local area.
Through countless efforts—from bake sales and fêtes to large donations—the parishioners managed to raise a colossal £65,000 during the 1970s. This was an immense sum of money at the time. It demonstrated the deep-seated desire within the community to maintain a physical presence in Tunbridge Wells.
This crucial funding meant the builders could finally break ground. The new St Augustine’s church building was completed in 1975, marking the official return to a proper, dedicated church home, and ending the ‘St Tesco’s’ era for good. It was later formally blessed in 1980.
A Church Serving the Whole Territory
Fifty years after the new building was completed, the core value of community generosity has remained at the heart of St Augustine’s mission. The church is now more than just a place for Mass and prayer; it functions as a key social hub for the wider Tunbridge Wells area.
Father Graziano emphasised that the current building represents a valued inheritance that the congregation gladly shares.
“We are so grateful for the legacy that allows us to share this building with the wider community,” he said. The church actively supports those in need, noting that it hosts crucial support services, including thrice-weekly Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings, offering vital help to people dealing with addiction.
He believes the structure itself plays a key role in the town’s welfare. “We look after the needs of others through the church, and we look after the church building itself. That is the fundamental reason we have chosen to celebrate this anniversary so enthusiastically.”
The church recently introduced a new parish logo, aiming to clearly express the congregation’s identity and mission. It serves not as corporate branding, but as a way of fostering internal unity and improving communication about its work within the wider community.
While the current building marks a modern chapter, the parish’s history is much deeper. It reaches back 187 years, starting with the original foundation in 1838. The current jubilee, therefore, is a celebration of both the modern building’s success and the continuous faith tradition that survived a major upheaval. The presence of the church on Crescent Road is a lasting monument to the power of community spirit, determination, and enduring faith.
