The Parish of St. Joseph, Wealdstone, was now established, the seed had been sown, and the few parishioners and Fr. Odo became one unit, working for God, trying to establish his Kingdom here on earth. Development and consolidation of the parish were uppermost in everyone's mind and the extracts which follow, taken from various Record Books, show in outline, the growth, patient endeavour and co-operation of all to establish the parish on a firm foothold.
August 28, 1901 Up to this date Mrs. Vokes had kindly undertaken to cook for Fr. Odo and brought him his meals from her house, 1 Trinity Villas, High Road, Wealdstone. She also kindly helped him in buying the necessary things for the house.
January 28, 1902 Fr. Odo Distel obtained from His Eminence the Cardinal Archbishop in writing a recommendation, with his blessing, for collecting funds towards a School-Chapel i.e. an iron building serving as Church and School.
April 30, 1902 A deputation called on Mr. Lilley respecting land for Church and School. He was agreeable to sell land for these purposes at £750 per acre.
June 4, 1902 The Fathers moved into "The Elms", Harrow Weald Lane, Harrow Weald.
May 21, 1903 2 Sisters of St. Chretienne visited Fr. Odo who gave them a recommendation to the Vicar General, Mgr. Fenton. The Cardinal being ill at Mill Hill.
August 14, 1903 2 Sisters of St. Chretienne came to stay at 'Bellevue' and 'Glencoe', two houses in Headstone Drive.
September 28, 1903 The Sisters opened a parochial school in their house 'Glencoe' and a middle class school in the house 'Bellevue'
June 29, 1904 A General Meeting of the Congregation was held to consider an offer of a piece of ground opposite Risingholme Road belonging to Mr. J.E. Lilley, J.P., as a site for Church, School and Presbytery.
May 29, 1905 His Grace, the Archbishop Dr. Francis Bourne, made his canonical visitation at Wealdstone and administered the Sacrament of Confirmation. His Grace's first visit to Wealdstone.
July 12, 1905 The site for Church and School (3/4 acre) and for the S.D.S. House (1/2 acre) has been purchased at a cost of £1000
May 3, 1906 The work of erecting the iron church was started
June 17, 1906 The iron church was completed
June 20, 1906 Mass was offered for the first time in the iron church
August, 1906 The following Church requisites have been presented to the Mission

Church Bell in spire by Mr. Haus, manager of Kodak factory
Baptismal Font (Mr. & Mrs. Moxhay) £8
Stations of Cross by Miss Babette Hobzle of Ausberg, Bavaria
Safe by Miss Smith, Risingholme Road £6.18.-.
Easter Candle stick by Miss Smith £3
Confessional made by Mr. Westerdick, Harrow (£10 collected)

Cost of Iron Church £253.10.-.
Benches, Fittings etc £ 87.7.6

Total £340.17.6

To be paid by yearly instalments of £50


May 1907 A secondhand iron building has been bought from Kodak - Cost £25 It was erected on the Missionground for School and entertainment purposes. Cost of erecting £18. Dimensions 51 x 27 ft.
June 24, 1907 The St. Chretienne sisters have taken the house known as 'Elfordleigh', High Road, which house they afterwards acquired as their property
March 20, 1909 His Grace, the Archbishop of Westminster, Dr. Francis Bourne, accompanied by Rev. Fr. Evans, assistant secretary, came hither by his motor-car and formally opened the new school and St. Joseph's Hall.
June 24, 1909 The house No.76 Spencer Road attached to 78 'The Presbytery' has been rented for the Fathers who are going to prepare themselves here for Assam, and for the Procurator of the Assamese Mission for the countries of the English idion. The rent for both houses being £60
July 3, 1909 A Garden Fete and Sale of Work was held under Patronage of Sir Thomas Grattan Esmonde - Bart M.P. in the grounds of the S.D.S. Fathers, in order to clear the debt of £75 standing on St. Joseph's Hall. The opening was performed by Lady Muriel Walkins. The Kodak brass band gratuitously lent their valuable services. The net proceeds were £25.
February 28, 1910 Fr. Hermann Rogier arrived here to be priest in charge of the mission.
August 9, 1910 A cheque for £400 (£300 of which were borrowed through the mediation of St. Nazianz Salvatorian House, Wisconsin U.S.A. at 5% for the purchase of 1/2 acre of land (behind the Mission land) from the Archbishop of Westminster was sent to his solicitors Messrs. Withan, Roskell, Munster & Wild, 1 Gray's Inn Square, W.C.
1911 Salvatorian Fathers house built
September 13, 1920 Sisters of St. Chretienne left Wealdstone as the religious persecution in their native Lorraine ceased.
September 9, 1920 2 Sisters of Our Lady of the Mission suceeded the Sisters of St. Chretienne in teaching in St. Joseph's elementary school 44 children attended.
November 10, 1920 The Sisters bought 'Lyneham' the house next door
June, 1921 The High School dedicated to and named after the Sacred Heart.
1922 Both new schools were well established. 123 students at the Convent.
September 20, 1926 Beginnings of Salvatorian College. School opened with 13 boys. (see latter part of brochure)
May 1929 New Church commences, designed by Adrian Scott, at a cost of £18,000.
October 12, 1929 Foundation Stone of Church laid by Cardinal Bourne
January 11, 1931 Cardinal formally opened the new church and preached at the Solemn Mass.
August 11, 1937 The Foundation Stone of the present St. Joseph's School was laid. 2 months later on the Feast of Christ the King the school was blessed by Father Cuthbert Smith.
November 1937 The School was opened and 254 pupils attended
March21, 1962 Church Consecrated

| 1976 Parish Magazine Index | HOME |