Vincent (1581-1660) born of French peasant stock, as a Priest devoted his life to serving the poor, founding charity homes and missions in Europe. He was canonised in 1737; and the Society of St Vincent de Paul was founded in 1833.
Father Riq Fernandez now welcomes you to St Vincent’s Church. The Parish isblessed with a truly multi-generational, multi-cultural congregation, worshipping together in our beautiful Church in a spirit of warm friendship and fellowship.
From humble beginnings in 1923, serving Catholic families living on the newly-built Becontree Estate - a Priest from SS Peter & Paul coming to say Mass in a temporary Chapel - St Vincent’s was established as the first Parish in Dagenham in 1927, with its own Parish Priest, and in 1929 St Vincent’s School was opened. The congregation outgrew the small temporary church building, and on 31 May 1933 the present impressive permanent Church was blessed and opened by the Bishop. After some restoration, St Vincent’s was consecrated on 4 December 1973. The Church interior was re-ordered, and rededicated in October 1989.
Let us all go forward, together, to cherish and continue this wonderful heritage.