Teignmouth Road, London

Divine Word Missionaries
8-10 Teignmouth Road
London NW2 4HN
UNITED KINGDOM
Tel: +44 (020) 8452 8430

“Teignmouth Road: An Inspiring Missionary Journey”

In the bustling streets of North London, two venerable missionary congregations, the Mill Hill Missionaries headquartered at St. Joseph’s College in Mill Hill and the White Fathers who found their training centre in St. Edward’s College in Totteridge, had long nurtured the seeds of faith. However, as the flow of new recruits into these hallowed halls dwindled, the Superiors of both Societies faced a pivotal decision—to combine their resources and reshape the future of missionary training.

This transformative merge witnessed both St. Joseph’s and St. Edward’s opening their lecture halls to aspiring students who now found themselves commuting between these historic institutions within the span of a working day. Yet, the spirit of collaboration did not end there.

Soon after the union, a proposal emerged—an invitation to other full-time missionary congregations in England to join this newfound alliance, christened the Missionary Institute. The Holy Fathers, the SMA Fathers, and the Comboni Missionaries all embraced this vision. In this symphony of shared purpose, Fr. John Fincutter, the SVD Provincial, relocated his residents to St. Edward’s College. Adjacent to this revered institution, another building emerged on the horizon—St. Paul’s House, leased to the SVD as a residence for their students attending the Missionary Institute.

But as seasons shifted, so did the narrative. In 1971, Fr. Kevin O’Toole assumed the mantle of Provincial in England, only to receive news from the White Fathers—the sale of St. Edward’s College was imminent, making way for a new student residence. Conversations with Mr. Peel, the White Fathers’ architect, gained momentum. The initial plan to construct a separate residence for SVD students was discarded, awaiting the White Fathers’ sale of their old property.

Amidst these deliberations, the Divine Word Missionaries possessed the means from the sale of their properties in Hadzor. Mr. Peel, the architect, counselled Fr. O’Toole to seek property nearby, and the Cricklewood area of North London beckoned. The journey began with a visit to Cameron Estate Agents in Willesden Green. A property at 8 and 10 Teignmouth Road beckoned—an ideal sanctuary for SVD’s purposes. Nestled in a serene neighbourhood with proximity to transportation links, this property boasted individual rooms leased as bed-sits to foreign students, complemented by a spacious garden.

The decision to acquire Teignmouth Road was made with relative ease, albeit with the need to obtain Brent Council’s blessing to repurpose it as a student residence. Permission was granted for accommodating 16 students, but plans to convert two garages at the garden’s end into residential quarters met with a stern refusal. Interior renovations ensued, including upgraded heating systems, before students could move in.

As September 1975 heralded the new school year, ten students and three priests found themselves at home. Fr. Peter McHugh took the helm as the first Rector, later succeeded by Fr. Walter Boyle. The Missionary Institute, once a beacon of shared purpose, eventually faded into history.

Yet, Teignmouth Road, now bereft of the student robes, continues to weave its narrative. Confreres have passed through its doors, leaving traces of their mission. Today, it remains an integral part of the Divine Word Missionaries’ story—a place where faith and purpose endure, welcoming both homegrown and international pilgrims to the vibrant heart of London.

Fr. Kevin O’Toole SVD’s vision, realized in Teignmouth Road, stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of mission and the Divine Word Missionaries’ unwavering commitment to their divine calling.