In 1994 we have celebrated the 200th anniversary of the foundation, in 1794, the parish of Our Lady of Victories but we must look back even further to discover the Catholic origins of Kensington. The parish church in medieval times was not Our Lady of Victories but St. Mary Abbots. The Lord of the Manor Lord De Vere, gave the living of the parish of Cheniston (now ronounced and written Kensington) to the Abbot of Abingdon in thanks for curing his son and heir. This happened in the latter part of the 11th century. The word Abbots in the title of the church was a reference to the Abbot of Abingdon who was patron of the parish. Abingdon Road, in which our Presbytery now stands, preserves in its name another reminder of the link with the Berkshire abbey.

The last Catholic Vicar of St. Mary Abbots was probably Thomas Batemanton who succeeded to the parish at the beginning of the reign of Elizabeth 1(1558). What followed were for English Catholics the real Dark Ages when many were persecuted and put to death. Although it was possible to hear Mass in secret after this time, it was not until the arrival of the Abbe de Broglie in 1794 that Catholic Mass was once more regularly celebrated in Kensington.