The changed face of urban parishes

London has always been one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world. How has the large influx of migrants in recent decades changed the city of London and what has been the reaction of Londoners?

 

Yes, London was always cosmopolitan. In the 1961 census, 97% of the population, including ‘incomers’, was white – predominantly English and then a small number who were mostly European. It was in the 1970s that things began to change significantly. The first mass migration began with the arrival of immigrants from the Caribbean in the 1950s and 60s.  Throughout the 70s, 80s and 90s other groups arrived such as Ugandan Asians who had been expelled by the dictator, Idi Amin. Many more came from India and Pakistan, Hong Kong, Ghana, Nigeria and every other part of the world. The entry of the UK into the EU in 1973, saw further waves of immigration into the country. The collapse of communism brought many people from eastern Europe to settle in London. As of 2021, the ‘white’ English population of London makes up only 36%.

 

While immigrants took on jobs that English people did not want, and played a vital role in society, those who were not white suffered tremendous discrimination. This came to a head with the race riots during the late 1970s and early 1980s. It would be safe to say that discrimination and prejudice has reduced greatly but is still present to some degree. However, the second and third generations of these original migrants now definitely feel themselves to be ‘Londoners’.

 

What about Catholic parishes? Did they change in character with the influx of migrants and were these migrants made welcome?

 

Although the post-war era saw the establishment of a large Polish Catholic community with its own Polish language parishes, the Catholic community in London, as in much of the UK, was mostly made up of people of Irish origin and whose ancestors had begun to come over from Ireland after the Famine of the mid-19th century. Initially, during the 1960s, black Caribbean Catholics, mostly young single men, were not made to feel welcome in many parishes. As a result, many left the Church completely or even formed their own evangelical-style churches where they could celebrate their faith in a way which was not only more vibrant, in keeping with their culture, but also free and safe from ethnic prejudice.

 

Following the race riots in London during the 1980s and the increasing number of migrants from the 1970s onwards, the Bishops Conference of England Wales began saw the need to set up chaplaincies to minister to many different ethnic and linguistic communities.

 

How did things develop in parishes since the arrival of large numbers of people from every corner of the world? What is the situation now in a typical London parish?

 

Ethnic and language communities would gravitate to a parish where there was a priest from their community, or which was near to where they stayed – frequently immigrants tended to settle near people from their own community. Sometimes they would travel all the way across London to a particular parish because that was where others of their group had historically started to come together. In a parish near my own, for example, almost 95% of people at each of the Masses would be of African origin.

 

In lots of ways, attendance at Mass and involvement in parish life may not always correspond to your geographical location but more to your ethnic and cultural origin. You go to Mass in a place where it is perhaps said in your own language, joining with people who are like you, who sing the hymns in a style you are used to and who live their faith in a way you are familiar with. After Mass, there is usually the opportunity to share a meal and spend quality time with members of your ethnic community.

 

However, many parishes have adapted and often celebrate ‘International Masses’. These cater for the cultural and linguistic differences and show not only the rich variety and world-wide presence of Catholicism but also the Church’s capacity to gather all her children together despite the differences.

 

Things continue to change. In recent times, more people are beginning to attend and be involved in their own local parish. Yes, they might go to the ‘cultural’ or ‘linguistic’ parish which they and their parents started to attend when they first came to London for the baptisms, first Communions, weddings and so on, but now, with the years and the sense of integration, people are beginning to feel more part of the parish where they live.

 

The migration of people from faraway places has certainly enriched our London parish. Yes, there are problems and tensions at times, but we are grateful for the vibrancy. Immigrants often bring with them values which have grown weaker in English society – the strong sense of family, especially the extended family, an innate sense of the spiritual and the divine, discreteness, modesty, respect – values which continue to be absolute ‘back home’ in Africa or Asia or the Caribbean or Eastern Europe and beyond.

 

While the change which has taken place in our parishes in London has been positive for the most part, one strange phenomenon I notice, and which gives me concern is that possibly parishes have tended to become somewhat more closed in on themselves. Ecumenical activity has declined. There is little interest in connecting with people of other faiths except possibly at the level of church and religious leaders. Who knows why this is? Perhaps it is all part of a process, part of the journey we are on. Perhaps our hearts and minds still must do some migrating.

 

 

Interview by Vincent Lockhart