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A simple note in the parish log book of 1955 reads:
"In August 1955 the Bishop appointed Canon Wainwright to St. Bernard's Convent and Fr Crawfurd moved into 137 Trelawney Avenue as a tenant of the LCC.
The first Mass was offered (in the house) on August 29th and the Blessed Sacrament began to be reserved there."
And so began the story of Holy Family parish on the eastern side of Slough.

Fifty years later we are celebrating this milestone.

137,Trelawney Ave.- today

Father Kevin

We had a formal launch in January, and in the followings months there will be an international evening to reflect the many nationalities that make up the community, a jubilee fete, a project to help a young community in Africa and a great jubilee Mass on 18th. September.
"We're beginning with the blessing of homes," said Father Kevin.
"There's an ancient tradition of giving people holy water and chalk to mark their doors with the year and the names of the three Magi as a blessing on their homes for the coming year. We may do that on the feast of the Holy Family or the Epiphany."

WORLD YOUTH DAY
"At the moment the place is full of ideas!" says Father Kevin.
"It is a particular joy that a whole number of young people will be travelling to Cologne for the World Youth Day, a sign that the parish still has a great vitality about it."

Youth Ministry in the Diocese of Northampton
Its a packed schedule of activities. First you will spend a few days with a family in a German diocese, meet lots of young people from all over the world, do some community work and have fun. Then its on to Cologne for a week of WYD celebrations, the Vigil and Mass with the Holy Father.

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Holy Family church was opened
on 2nd. February 1957

Father Crawfurd
died: Oct.1969

After this year’s jubilee celebrations the parish will then set about decorating and reordering its church in time to mark another milestone.
Fr Crawfurd is still a revered man in the parish. He died in October 1969 and even though his final years were dogged by bad health he handed over a thriving parish to his successors. As the coming months events will show, the parish is still very much alive and bursting with vivacity.

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Once the jubilee events are finalised and scheduled, detailed information will appear on these pages, plus photos and reports about any that have happened. Please check back regularly. If you would like to comment on our jubilee please visit our guest book. guest book
In the meantime please visit our History pages, which includes Fr. Crawford’s last letter to his parishioners. history

2nd February, 1957
extract from the Slough Observer
Holding lighted candles, about 400 people took part in a candlelit procession at the first act of public worship at the Holy Family Catholic Church, Trelawney Avenue, Langley on Saturday. The procession, followed the initial blessing of the Church by the priest in charge, Father Geoffrey Crawfurd.
Worshippers had to walk under a contractor's name board to enter the Church, which is not yet completly finished. The red bricked building is costing about £17,000 to build. Seating for 320 will cost another £940 and will soon be delivered.It has taken only seven months to build the Church which has heating under the concrete floor.
Since the influx of hundreds of catholics on the Langley L.C.C.estate, services have been held at the Marish School."It is grand to have the Church at last," said Father Crawfurd. The solemn blessing of the Church will be performed by the Right Rev. Mgr. Charles Grant, V.G. and the First High Mass sung by The Rt. Rev. The Abbot of Ealing on Shrove Tuesday, March 5th. 1957.
Father Crawfurd was assisted with the service on Saturday by Canon William Wainwright, chaplain of St. Bernard's Convent, and Father Anthony Hulme, the diocesan travelling missioner.