A history of the Centre
Below is a brief timeline of the Cardinal Hume Centre's history, for a more detailed timeline please download the document at the bottom of the page.
1927
Mrs Eyre, the mother of the Countess of Gainsborough buys the Wesleyan Chapel in Horseferry Road and donates it to Archdiocese of Westminster. Mrs Eyre dedicates the Church to the Sacred Heart in thanksgiving for the recovery of the son from a serious illness.
1939
Plans are submitted for the Convent of the Sacred Heart to be built.
1944
On the night of the 14th March 1944 the Sacred Heart Church is destroyed by enemy action.
1962
Construction of the convent is resumed after interruption from war. The Sacred Heart Church is rebuilt under the direction of Harry G Clacy and completed the following year.
1986
The Sisters of the Eucharist vacate the Sacred Heart convent. Cardinal Hume, Bishop O'Donoghue and Sister. Eileen O'Mahoney purchase the property with help from the Brampton Trust.
The Cardinal Hume Centre is formally founded on 17th October. Originally called the "Arneway Project", the Centre was renamed in Cardinal Basil Hume's honour at the suggestion of Sr. Eileen O'Mahoney. From the outset, Cardinal Hume strongly insisted that people of all faiths be welcomed and respected at the Centre.
1987
The CHC developed according to the major needs identified through communication with the community it served. The first major identified need was a place of refuge and support for young families living in bed and breakfast accommodation or bed-sits. Therefore the Family Centre was opened at the end of October, staffed by volunteer Sisters.
The medical centre (the Surgery) opens in October specifically to serve those without a fixed address.
The Cardinal Hume Centre charity shop opens on the ground floor of the Horseferry Road property.
1989
November, the Cardinal Hume Centre Hostel, providing 11 rooms for homeless young people, opens on the top floor of the former convent building.
1993
The Horseferry Road Project, an 8-bed residential hostel, opens in the space above the charity shop. The HRP hostel is specifically for people in substance misuse recovery who need a place to live while they get back on their feet.
1995
The Education Project is launched, prompted by CHC clients' desire to develop their basic literacy and numeracy skills.
2004
April; Work begins on a two-year building project to refurbish the entire Centre. Many Cardinal Hume Centre services had to be moved off-site for the duration of the building work.
2006
20th birthday of Cardinal Hume Centre.
8th March; The newly developed Cardinal Hume Centre is officially opened by CHC Trustees Bishop Bernard Longley and Sister Sheila Sumner.
A detailed timeline of the Centre's history
Detailed timeline