by Sue Corcoran  June 10, 2025. Read the article online here.

Twyford and Wargrave’s Catholic churches have merged with two parishes in Maidenhead to create one new, larger parish.

A special mass to launch the new Parish of the Holy Family in Maidenhead and Twyford, was held at St Joseph’s Church, Maidenhead on Sunday June 8.

It was attended by worshippers from churches in the new parish which includes St Thomas More, Twyford, Our Lady of Peace, Wargrave, St Elizabeth’s, Cookham, St John’s Convent, Kiln Green and Maidenhead churches, St Joseph’s and St Edmund Campion. The new parish’s priests have agreed there is no intention to change mass times in any of the churches.

Father Liam Cummins, now parish priest of the new united parish, said: “The Holy Family Parish going forward will be one of unity, diversity and inclusion.

“We felt that it’s best to come together as one parish, one community. . . We have at least 68 different nationalities in our church communities which are coming together.” 

Priest for Twyford and Wargrave, Father Kevin Hughes, continuing in his post, said: “The change is in line with the Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth plan to restructure the diocese so its resources can be used more effectively for the purpose of the proclamation of the gospel, which is the function of the church.

“This is being done in light of not just the declining numbers of clergy, but rather as a recognition we should embrace a changing world and also how we can, as a church, promote our church and our communities in the best possible way.”

The new parish would be able to share its resources and people’s skills in the most effective way to strengthen its communities and proclaim the word of God, he added. Father Cummins, a member of the Mill Hill Missionaries, has been based at St Edmund Campion Church for the past eight years.