This bricky mass of a Catholic church has been in this part of Walthamstow ever since the very first houses were built here.

From the street, it looks as if the church was built at an odd angle, but that’s because the ancient Blackhorse Road is very curvy and you’re standing on one of the curves. The housing that developed around here in the late 1890s is in regimented lines, and the church actually sits in a straight line with the housing.

The Catholic church was one of three added at the ends of the roads to serve the new population, alongside a Methodist church to the south (since demolished) and a Baptist church to the north (still there).

The CofE church at St Michael is a few streets away, which might give a subtle hint as to the sorts of people expected to move into the new housing, who were less likely to be CofE adherents, so more Irish migrants and the like. Today, there’s a strong Polish congregation living there, so the tradition continues.

The Catholic church was funded by the heiress Miss Frances Ellis, who was a prolific funder of Catholic churches in South London, but also one north of the river – here in Walthamstow.

Frances Elizabeth Ellis was born into a wealthy family in Brighton in 1846 and raised in the Anglican faith. Following her father’s death, she inherited a substantial fortune and devoted much of her adult life to caring for her blind mother and infirm sister. During a stay in Ramsgate, Kent, she appears to have developed an interest in Catholicism. According to tradition, she was particularly struck by the devotion of a local man, Mr Leahy, whom she regularly saw walking to Mass at St Augustine’s Abbey regardless of the weather. Whatever the exact circumstances, Leahy seems to have played a key role in introducing her to influential members of the Southwark clergy, including Canon St John, who was closely involved in fundraising efforts.

Eventually, she funded more than 20 churches, requesting that they be small, simple, and Romanesque in style. They came to be known as Miss Ellis boxes, and were often designed by architects more used to building railway sheds, hence their utilitarian appearance.

The Walthamstow church was designed by Fr Benedict Williamson (who designed seven other Ellis churches), and Miss Ellis provided a substantial £1,000 towards its cost. The church opened in October 1908, was extended in 1930, and was reordered in the 1980s.

It’s part of the Diocese of Brentwood, and although opened in 1908, it was only consecrated in 1985.

Internally, it’s quite a plain church, by catholic standards, with a simple white and cream decoration, and various statues of saints and decorated panels showing the Stations of the Cross.

One of the more unusual saints here is St Martin de Porres, the patron saint of black and mixed-race people, barbers, innkeepers, public health workers, hair stylists, television… and animals.

The pews have a rather nice mid-century appeal.

The Lady Chapel, added in 1930 in the northeast of the church, has a large statue of Our Lady of the Rosary. To the southeast is the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, with a glass door, as it’s also used as a confessional.

As you leave, there’s a warning sign to look out for cyclists and scooters on the pavement.