St. Joseph's Church
A History of Catholicism in Leyton - Part 2

St Joseph's School

St. Joseph's School and first church on the top floor.

Another view of St. Joseph's School

The first priority for Catholic parishes was not to build a church, but to build a school. In 1900, St. Joseph's Catholic mixed school was opened in Vicarage Road. The school was reorganised for juniors and infants in 1948 and the school was extended in 1959.

The upper floor of the new school was registered as a temporary church until 1904. Total Sunday attendance in 1903 was 507. Cardinal Vaughan laid the foundation stone on May 6, 1900.

St. Joseph's Infant School in Marsh Lane was built on what was part of the gardens of Etloe House. Some of the land was sold off for sheltered housing and Etloe House itself now serves as the resource centre of a sheltered residential community of elderly people. The Junior School continues on the site of the first church in Vicarage Road. Visit the Junior School Web site www.stjosephsrcj.waltham.sch.uk/ for further details about the school.