Welcome to St James the Less and St Helen Catholic Church
St James the Less and St Helen Catholic church is an open and growing community located in the historic town of Colchester in England.
Our main building is located in Priory Street, Colchester. Mass centres are located in other areas of the town.
See Mass Times for Locations.
See our newsletter for news and upcoming events.
Fr Philip, Fr Gervase and the Community of Our Lady of Walsingham warmly invite you to take part in the Parish Mission entitled “Be Renewed in Hope”.
Our History
The Roman Catholic presence in Colchester began in the late eighteenth century with French exiles, later joined by Irish soldiers. A French priest, Fr Amand Benard, began serving the community in 1814. By 1831, a small building near North Hill provided a space for Mass, with visiting priests from Witham. In 1837, a new church was built on land donated by a local farmer, funded by Baron Mowbray, and designed by Joseph John Scoles in the Romanesque Revival style. Originally dedicated to Saint James the Greater, the church avoided external Catholic imagery to reduce local hostility.
Over time, the church grew and evolved. It was renamed twice, finally becoming St James the Less and St Helen, reflecting local tradition that Saint Helen was born in Colchester. The congregation often included large numbers of Catholic soldiers, leading to changes in military chaplaincy and the construction of a garrison church in 1954. The Sisters of Mercy arrived in 1891 and opened a school in 1896. Significant extensions took place in the early 1900s, including new aisles and a sacristy, overseen by Canon Bloomfield and architect Charles Edward Butcher. A church hall was added in 1911, designed by Canon Alexander Scoles. Further changes came in 1975 and 1987, including a reordering of the church and the installation of stained-glass windows by Augustus Pugin.
Historic Windows
The church features a rich variety of stained glass windows, many with significant historical and artistic value. Notably, the Blessed Sacrament chapel houses stained glass designed by A. W. Pugin, relocated from a redundant church in Derbyshire, depicting Christ with His disciples, angels, and floral motifs. The central apse window, crafted by Heaton, Butler & Bayne, was installed in 1987 and originated from the former Anglican church of St Leonard in Leicester. Additional stained glass in the apse, by Lavers & Westlake, dates from 1904.
The aisles also contain early twentieth-century stained glass, added during later extensions to the building. Architectural highlights include triple arched windows above the west entrance, a round-arched window in the gable, and short clerestory windows above the nave arcades, reflecting the proportions of the original design. The presbytery features round-arched sash windows with glazing bars, and the narthex arcading has been glazed in, enhancing both light and atmosphere within the church.
"Be Renewed in Hope"
Fr Philip, Fr Gervase and the Community of Our Lady of Walsingham warmly invite you to take part in the Parish Mission entitled “Be Renewed in Hope”.
Our Saints
Learn more about our Parish’s Saints.
About St James the Less
Patron Saint of Hatmakers.
Feast Day May 3.
St. James the Less, the author of the first Catholic Epistle, was the son of Alphaeus of Cleophas. His mother Mary was either a sister or a close relative of the Blessed Virgin, and for that reason, according to Jewish custom, he was sometimes called the brother of the Lord. The Apostle held a distinguished position in the early Christian community of Jerusalem. St. Paul tells us he was a witness of the Resurrection of Christ; he is also a “pillar” of the Church, whom St. Paul consulted about the Gospel.
According to tradition, he was the first Bishop of Jerusalem, and was at the Council of Jerusalem about the year 50. The historians Eusebius and Hegesippus relayed that St. James was martyred for the Faith by the Jews in the Spring of the year 62, although they greatly esteemed his person and had given him the surname of “James the Just.”
Tradition has always recognized him as the author of the Epistle that bears his name. Internal evidence based on the language, style, and teaching of the Epistle reveals its author as a Jew familiar with the Old Testament, and a Christian thoroughly grounded in the teachings of the Gospel. External evidence from the early Fathers and Councils of the Church confirmed its authenticity and canonicity.
The date of its writing cannot be determined exactly. According to some scholars it was written about the year 49 A.D. Others, however, claim it was written after St. Paul’s Epistle to the Romans (composed during the winter of 57-58 A.D.). It was probably written between the years 60 and 62 A.D.
St. James addresses himself to the “twelve tribes that are in the Dispersion,” that is, to Christians outside Palestine; but nothing in the Epistle indicates that he is thinking only of Jewish Christians. St. James realizes full well the temptations and difficulties they encounter in the midst of paganism, and as a spiritual father, he endeavors to guide and direct them in the faith. Therefore, the burden of his discourse is an exhortation to practical Christian living. Reference: www.catholic.org
About St Helen
Feast Day August 18.
Sometimes referred to as St. Helena.
Helen was the Empress mother of Constantine the Great. She was a native of Bithynia, who married the then Roman general Constantius I Chlorus about 270. Constantine was born soon after, and in 293, Constantius was made Caesar, or junior emperor. He divorced Helen to marry co Emperor Maximian’s stepdaughter.
Constantine became emperor in 312 after the fateful victory at Milvian Bridge, and Helen was named Augusta, or empress. She converted to Christianity and performed many acts of charity, including building churches in Rome and in the Holy Land. On a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, Helen discovered the True Cross.
She is believed to have died in Nicomedia. Her porphyry sarcophagus is in the Vatican Museum.
Geoffrey of Monmouth, England, started the legend that Helen was the daughter of the king of Colchester, a tradition no longer upheld.
In liturgical art Helena is depicted as an empress, holding a cross. Reference: www.catholic.org
Our Clergy
Meet the dedicated clergy serving our parish community across Colchester. With faith, compassion and commitment, they guide and support us in our spiritual journey through worship, pastoral care and community life.
Fr Philip Okoli
Parish Priest
Find out more
Father Philip Okoli serves as the Parish Priest at St James the Less and St Helen Catholic Church in Colchester, Essex. He joined the parish in September 2023 as Assistant Priest, having previously been resident at the Community of St John in Forest Gate.
Since his arrival, Fr Okoli has become an integral part of the parish community, contributing to the spiritual life across its four churches: St James the Less and St Helen in Priory Street, St Joseph’s in Mile End, St Theodore of Canterbury in Monkwick, and St Cedd and St Gregory in West Mersea.
Fr Philip leads a vibrant parish community and his pastoral responsibilities involve overseeing a diverse range of liturgical services, community outreach programmes, and sacramental preparation including celebrating Mass, administering sacraments, and supporting parishioners in their faith journeys.
Brentwood Diocese
Fr Anthony McKentey (Deceased)
Deceased Parish Clergy
Find out more
Fr Anthony McKentey was the Parish Priest of Colchester between October 2009 and September 10, 2017.
Fr Tony, as he is usually known, was born in Chelmsford in 1950. He attended St Philip Priory School there, and then Campion School, Hornchurch, when it first opened in 1962. After school, he worked for a short time at the Prudential Insurance Company in Holborn. In the summer of 1970 he paid his first visit to Lourdes which was a turning point in his life, and on his return applied to Bishop Casey to study for the priesthood.
He began his seminary studies at St Edmunds College, Ware, in September 1970 and was ordained in the College Chapel there as a Deacon on the 29th June 1975. He served as a Deacon in St Mary’s, Hornchurch and was ordained to the Priesthood in his home parish of Blessed Sacrament, Chelmsford, on March 27th 1976. He served as Assistant Priest in Holy Family, Benfleet, from 1976 to 1979; St Augustine’s, Barkingside from 1979 to 1983 and Brentwood Cathedral from 1983 to 1988. In 1988, he went back to St Augustine’s, Barkingside, as Parish Priest when it became a “one-man” parish, and remained there until his Silver Jubilee in 2001. During his time there funds were raised to set up a Parish Youth Centre and one of the parishioners, Paul Fox, was ordained there in 1998. In 2001, Fr Tony was appointed to Our Lady Queen of Peace, Braintree, where he spent eight happy years until the Bishop asked him to become Parish Priest of Colchester.
Fr Tony then moved to St Francis of Assisi, Halstead as the Parish Priest.
Sadly, he died on December 9, 2017 and his funeral Mass was held on December 22, 2017. May his soul rest in peace. Amen
Mgr Christopher Brooks
Retired Parish Clergy
Find out more
Mgr Chris Brooks MA, PsL, Retired as the Parish Priest of St James the Less and St Helen Catholic Church in Colchester, Essex in September 2025. He holds the title of Right Reverend Monsignor and has earned a Master of Arts degree. Additionally, he is designated as PsL, indicating his role as a Prelate of Honour to His Holineness.
Fr Philip Willenbrock (Deceased)
Deceased Parish Clergy
Find out more
Apart from my father, several other people have had a profound influence on my spiritual life. At Christ’s Hospital (the Blue Coat School near Horsham) I came under the influence of the Anglican Chaplain who later became a monk at Ampleforth.
At Keble College the Warden, Dr Austin Farrer a great Anglican theologian, gave me encouragement and friendship. While working in Cornwall as a GP the Anglican Bishop of Truro, the late Mgr Graham Leonard, told me that he thought I should be ordained and continue working as a GP. This happened in 1982.
Later I moved with my family to Essex having trained as a teacher. In 1992 I was received into the Catholic Church. Having undergone formation at Wonersh, I was ordained priest during 1997 in Brentwood Cathedral together with three other former Anglicans.
Since then I have ministered in St James the less and until 2007 continued to teach at St Benedict’s College.
Sadly, he died in 2022 and his funeral Mass was held on 13th July 2022. May his soul rest in peace. Amen
Join us
We warmly invite you to join our parish community, where faith, friendship and service come together. Whether you’re new to the area, returning to the Church, or simply looking for a spiritual home, you will find a place here. We welcome individuals and families of all ages to share in our worship, grow in faith and take part in parish life. Come and journey with us in the love of Christ.