We are the Roman Catholic community in Isleworth. Isleworth is a town on the River Thames in the western suburbs of London. It is part of the Borough of Hounslow. Although the area is densely built up, it does have large open spaces notably at Syon Park and Osterley Park. The population is about 30,000. It is served by arterial roads - the Great West Road (A4) and the Great Chertsey Road (A316) - and trains from London Waterloo - the Hounslow Line of the South West Trains network. The Piccadilly Underground Line (Heathrow branch) passes nearby at Osterley.

Isleworth has been a settlement since Saxon times. In the Middle Ages, it was the site of a magnificent Abbey of the Bridgettine Order. After the Reformation, Shrewsbury House was the location for one of the earliest Catholic missions in the south of England. For a fuller discussion of its story, follow the link above.

The present church was opened in 1909. Its architectural style is from the Italian Renaissance. The interior was recently completely redecorated to celebrate the Millennium.

The Isleworth Catholic community today is marked by its diversity. Between twenty and thirty countries of origin are represented, though the majority of our people come from England, Ireland and Scotland. Our homes are in Victorian terraced streets and villas, semi-detached houses from the 1920s and 30s, and post-war apartments; some are in high rise blocks and modern neo-Georgian developments. Most of our young children go to school at St. Mary's Junior, Infants and Nursery School. Older students go to Gumley House, Gunnersbury and St. Mark's Schools. Our sick and elderly are cared for in West Middlesex Hospital and in several residential homes. Some of us work in London, some at Heathrow Airport and others locally in commerce, transport and public services.

Most of the community lives within the geographical boundaries of the parish but some travel in from neighbouring areas. We have a reputation for being welcoming and inclusive. Our style is informal. There are about 500 regular churchgoers at St Bridget's.

Our Lady of Sorrows and St Bridget of Sweden

Memorial Square

112 Twickenham Road

Isleworth

TW7 6DL

UK

Directions

By Road: St Bridget's Church is located on the Twickenham Road (A310) by the War Memorial at its junction with South Street. The church has no car park but there is public on and off street parking nearby in South Street.

If you are coming to Isleworth for outside the district, the main approaches are via the M4/A4 and the M3/A316.

Coming from Central London follow the A4 to Gillette's Corner then take the A310 to the Church.

If you are using the North Circular Road or the South Circular Road go to Chiswick roundabout and follow the A4 westbound to Gillette's Corner then take the A310 to the Church.

From the West leave the M4 at Junction 3 then follow the A312 and A4 to Gillette's Corner then take the A310 to the Church.

From the South West take the M3 and A316 to the London Road roundabout at Twickenham then take the A310 to the Church.

Parking: Please be considerate when parking at the beginning and end of Mass times on Saturday and Sunday. Inconsiderate parking is not only inconvenient for people but has at times had serious consequences. When using the parish hall, please do not leave cars on the paved area or the gravel in front of the Churchas  not only does this damage the paving but you will get a parking ticket.

By Bus: 267 Hammersmith - Fulwell via Chiswick, Brentford, Isleworth and Twickenham and H37 Hounslow – Richmond via Isleworth and St Margaret's pass the door.

By Train: South West Trains from Waterloo call at Isleworth Station which is half a mile away.

Facilities

The church and hall have level access from the street. There are toilet facilities including a toilet for the disabled.

The church is fitted with an hearing induction loop. If you are wearing a hearing aid, please switch it to ‘T’

The name “Memorial Square” was designated quite recently for the area around the War Memorial where our church stands. Now we would like to incorporate this name into our address as an additional line. As well as helping to integrate us with the wider community, it will also locate the church more clearly for visitors to the area. Our full address will be:

Our Lady of Sorrows and St Bridget of Sweden Catholic Church

Memorial Square

112 Twickenham Road

Isleworth
Middlesex
TW7 6DL

Read more ...

When I first started attending Mass in “St Bridgets” I assumed that the name referred to the Irish St Bridget.

Many of the more well established parishioners however were quick to point out that the name actually refers to "St Bridget of Sweden” and that Isleworth has a long and proud association with this saint. The association dates back  to 1431 when English followers of hers built Syon Abbey, on the site that now  contains Syon House.

For more details of this see Stuart Bagnall's excellent article on St Bridget of Sweden

To further strengthen these links the parish communications team have been making contact with the Vadstena Abbey in Sweden, home of St Bridget.

For latest news please see the Parish Newletter above. We hope to bring you more news shortly.

For more about Vadstena please look here:

Abbey (wikipedia)

Convent

Museum

Town (in Swedish)