Welcome to the official website of St Mary of the Crays, the Roman Catholic Church serving Crayford and Barnehurst (south of the railway line). It is situated in the South East London area of the Archdiocese of Southwark, within the Bexley Deanery. To navigate this site you can click on the buttons on the right.  The weekly newsletter will normally be available on the site by the Friday prior to publication.  Comments or suggestions are always welcome, just visit Contact Us and e-mail the webmaster.

Latest News

Mass times over Christmas weekend 2010

On the 24th Vigil Mass will be a children's Mass with the 1st Holy Communion children doing the readings at 6pm. 11.30 Christmas carols followed by Midnight Mass. On Christmas Day Masses at 8.30 and 10.30. No evening Mass on Saturday 25th. On Sunday 26th Masses at 8.30 and 10.30 and on Boxing Day 27th at 10am.

Posted: 25th November 2010

Welcome Fr Philip

We welcome back Fr Philip Tandoh from Ghana. He has been here before and is staying for about a year.

Posted: 10th October 2010

Urgent Meeting Next Week

Please note that there will be a meeting in the social room next Tuesday, 20th July, to discuss opportunities for parishioners to take part in two events during the Papal visit in September. The meeting starts at 8pm.

Posted: 14th July 2010

Online newsletter update

Now that the parish side of the weekly newsletter is available on this website the Mass Intentions page will no longer be updated. Full details of Mass times and intentions are included in the newsletter.

Posted: 1st February 2010

School open/closed status messages

This new page shows the current status of all three local Catholic schools from the OpenCheck system. With the current wintery weather affecting the area it is a one-stop access point for the three schools.

Posted: 6th January 2010

The newsletter goes online!

The parish side of the weekly newsletter is now available on this website each week. An archive of newsletters from March 2009 is also available.

Posted: 1st January 2010

First Communion 2010 Preparation

The programme has begun with 30 children taking part in the preparation for the Sacrament. Please pray for the children and their parents. Thank you to Mrs Gillespie and her team for their time and effort in support of the programme. The Class will be in attendance at 10.30am Mass on 29th November and will conduct the liturgy of the day. Details of the programme are available here.

Posted: 14th November 2009

Welcome Fr Gabriel

We now welcome Fr Gabriel from Bangladesh who will be helping us as and when his studies in Cliftonville allow. I am sure you will tender him the usual St Mary of the Crays hospitality.

Posted: 10th October 2009

A message from Fr Anthony

I would like to express my sincerest appreciation and thanks to all parishioners of St Mary of the Crays for the warm reception given to me upon my arrival. In fact you have clearly demonstrated to me that you are exceptional in your dealings with a visiting priest and I will never forget your hospitality and comradeship. Thank you very much and may God richly bless you. Amen.

Posted: 2nd October 2009

Fr Anthony Assebiah

We welcome Fr Anthony, from Ghana, who has come to stay in Crayford until the end of September. While he is with us there will be an extra weekday Mass on Tuesday at 9.15am.

Posted: 25th July 2009

Confirmation 2009

After a delay caused by the snow, and a change in celebrant, Bishop John Hine visited St Mary's on Wednesday 4th March to confer the sacrament of confirmation on 23 of our young people. The bishop is pictured in the hall afterwards, in front of a montage of pictures from the Southwell House retreat which was part of this year's preparation programme.

Posted: 8th March 2009

Stations of the Cross during Lent

Each Wednesday morning during Lent there will be Stations of the Cross after the 9.15am Mass.

Posted: 20th February 2009

Children's Liturgy Group Nativity Scene

The Children's Liturgy Group created this nativity scene during Advent which was displayed in front of the lectern. They meet on Sundays at the 10.30 Mass. Children upto those preparing for First Holy Communion go to a side room before the readings start and return at the offertory procession. The liturgy consists of readings suitable for children and some craft work or drawing. The group is in need of some new leaders to help on a rota basis (roughly once-a-month). If interested, please contact Fr Ryan or Sue Cooper.

Posted: 9th January 2009

Love-in-a-Box 2008

Over 150 boxes were collected for dispatch to Eastern European countries. They will bring much joy to deprived children at Christmas. A big thank you to St Joseph's School and Parishioners for all their very generous donations.

Posted: 21st November 2008

Preparation for the Sacraments

This week sees the start of the preparation programmes for both Confirmation and First Reconcilliation/First Holy Communion. The Confirmation programme begins on Monday 3rd November at 7.15pm while the First Holy Communion classes start on Saturday 8th November at 9.45am. Please remember the children and young people and their catechists in your prayers. The dates of the sacraments themselves will appear in the parish diary.

Posted: 2nd November 2008

New Church Lighting

After a week which saw the morning Mass celebrated in the social room, the new church lighting was unveiled for the Solemnity of All Saints. The new lights are more accessible for maintenance and more economic to run. Along the sides of the church we now have spotlights illuminating each of the stations of the cross.

Posted: 1st November 2008