Our story

Two churches, one community

The story of St Andrew’s and St Alban’s is closely woven into the history of Mottingham itself. Our two churches were built almost 80 years apart, in very different circumstances, but both grew from the same desire: to share the good news of Jesus Christ and provide places where people could come together in worship, faith and friendship.

St Andrew’s: From country village to London suburb

In the middle of the nineteenth century, Mottingham was still a largely rural hamlet, surrounded by fields and farmland. That began to change with the arrival of the railway in 1866. New homes followed, and the growing community needed a church of its own.

St Andrew’s was built in the late 1870s and opened around 1880. Designed in the Victorian Gothic style by E. F. C. Clarke, its red brickwork, stone detailing and steeply pitched roofs reflected the architectural confidence of the period.

In 1884, Mottingham became a parish in its own right, with St Andrew’s at its heart. As the neighbourhood grew, so did the church. A new sanctuary and chapels were added in 1912.

For generations, St Andrew’s has been a place where local people have gathered to worship God, hear the message of Jesus Christ, celebrate, remember and support one another.

St Alban’s: A church for a new community

After the Second World War, new housing was urgently needed. From 1946, the Coldharbour Estate began to take shape on what had previously been farmland, providing homes for families building new lives after the war.

St Alban’s began as a daughter church of St Andrew’s, bringing Christian worship, teaching and fellowship into the heart of the new estate.

The first congregation met in a temporary building, believed to have been a wartime Nissen hut. The permanent church, designed during the 1950s, provided a lasting home for worship and neighbourhood activities.

The curved form of the present building recalls a Nissen hut, although we have yet to confirm whether this resemblance was intentional.

From its beginnings, St Alban’s sought to put Christian faith into practice through friendship, hospitality and service.

Growing together

Although they began in different centuries, St Andrew’s and St Alban’s share a common purpose: to make Jesus Christ known and help people grow in faith and experience the love of God.

Today, the two churches form one parish, serving Mottingham through worship, prayer, Christian teaching, friendship and practical care for the community.

Looking to the future

Our story is still being written. We want St Andrew’s and St Alban’s to be thriving Christian communities where people of all ages and backgrounds can encounter Jesus Christ, discover the hope and new life he offers, and grow together in faith.

We value the history we have inherited, but we are equally excited about what comes next. We hope you will become part of our story.