other essential equipment. This was readily accepted and the site in the Avenue, Formerly part of the grounds of Mount House, was purchased using the money collected by Father Coghlan and the Parishioners. Preparation of the building of the new Church commenced in October 1938. It was most fitting that a member of the Courtauld family, so long linked with the history of Braintree, should be the chief benefactor in the founding of the new Church. The new Church was based upon the design of a Church at Seaford in Sussex, a style much liked by Dr. Courtauld, particularly for its lightness. The architects were Mr. J.O'Hanlon Hunges and Mr. W.E.F. Johns with Mr. Geoffery Webb as consultant on liturgical matters. The builders were the Chelmsford firm of Messrs. Flower and Hewett. The new Church The ceremony of laying down the foundation stone was carried out on Saturday 11th February 1939. a large wooden cross was erected in the sanctuary, and before this Father Walsh sang the litany followed by prayers after which he laid the foundation stone as the Bishop of Bentwood had delegated his authority. Placed behind the foundation stone was a sealed glass jar containing a record on the parchment of the foundation of the Church, several current British coins, and an account from the news paper of the death of Pope pius XI who had died the previous day, with a record of his life's work? The day chosen was the Feast of Our lady of Lourdes, with the title of the new Church, Our Lady, Queen of Peace. The first Mass in the new Church was sung by Canon Wilson and about forty priests, when Bishop Doubleday solemnly opened the new Church on August 31st 1939, a few days before the outbreak of the Second World War. A rapid increase in the size of the congregations after the opening of the Church soon led to the need for an assistant priest, Fr.Petry , being appointed in 1940. He quickly set to work and built, almost single-handed a small Hall from two sheds, the gift of a local farmer. During the 1939-45 war a large number of American Army personnel attended Mass in