The parish is over 150 years old. It grew from the needs of Irish labourers working on the viaduct of the Great West Railway. Masses were celebrated for some years in private houses, when the parish was officially opened in 1853. But by the 1860's a church was built, designed by Edward Pugin, son of Augustus Welby Pugin. This church served the growing community well for nearly a century, but by the 1960's the church was far too small, and was replaced by the present building, designed more in the post-war style with the popular materials of the day, a concrete bulding of quite striking design. It was dedicated to Our Lady & St.Jospeh and boasts a prominent sculpture of the Holy Family outside and above the main doors.  

Ealing Hospital is about a half-mile from the church.  The priests are voluntary members of the chaplaincy team, supporting the part-time employed Catholic chaplain, and in turn are well supported by the priests of neighbouring parishes. Mass is celebrated in the hospital chapel every Friday at 2pm. If patients wish for a chaplain to visit them, they or their families do need to ask the staff for this, as the chaplains are not allowed to ask for the names of Catholic patients.

The parish is now a thriving cosmopolitan community, with a Mass attendance of about 1200 each Sunday. There is a Parish Centre alongside the church, which houses a Social Club and a hall, and is used for many parish activities throughout the week. 

STAFF:   The parish priest is Canon Bernard Scholes, (born 1936, ordained 1960 and previously parish priest of Holy Rood Church in Watford.). The assistant priest is Father Richard Nesbitt, who was ordaind in 2007, and for whom this is a first appointment.  The Parish Catechetical Co-ordinator is Miss Elizabeth Anderson.

The Sisters of St.Joseph of Peace have long played a prominent part in the life of the parish, and are still there, in St.Mary's Convent, opposite the church. The Medical Mission Sisters are also active in the parish.

St.Joseph's Catholic Primary School, founded by the Sisters of St.Joseph of Peace over a hundred years ago in York Avenue, is still a flourishing  and highly successful school, with very close links to the parish.

The parish has strong links with other Christian Churches, through Churches Together in Hanwell

We are also regualr supporters of the diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes, with a number of our young parishioners going as Redcaps