Parish Priest: Fr Peter Mansfield

Fr Peter was born in Sutton of Irish parents but grew up in Ireland in the town of Fermoy, Co. Cork.

He was educated by the Presentation Sisters and Christian Brothers until he moved to London at the age of fourteen. He completed his secondary school education at Wimbledon College, a Jesuit comprehensive school. From 1977 he began training for the priesthood at St John’s Seminary, Wonersh, Surrey.  

As a deacon he spent a short period at St Elphege’s, Wallington and was ordained to the priesthood in 1983 at Christ the King Church, Wimbledon Park. His first appointment as a priest was to St Andrew’s parish, Thornton Heath. Having served there for over five years he took up a new appointment at St Saviour’s, Lewisham. In 1996 he became parish priest when he was appointed to Bearsted & Harrietsham near Maidstone, Kent. In 2005 he was appointed to Our Lady & St Philip Neri, Sydenham until June 2016 when he took up his present appointment as parish priest at St Aidan’s, Coulsdon.

Deacon: Reverend Anthony Flavin

Deacon Tony was born in Battersea in 1958, the second youngest of 12. He attended Battersea Park parish (sometimes Stockwell) and went to St Mary’s primary school. In 1970 he went to Bishop Thomas Grant school leaving in 1975 with one much prized O level. He started work in New Covent Garden Flower Market soon after and was there for 35 years. In 1982 he married Wendy, moving first to Streatham and then in 1986 to Thornton Heath. They have two daughters, who both attended St James The Great and St Philomena’s. Wendy is the Nursery lead at St Chad’s school in South Norwood. Having started his studies in 2000, Tony was ordained to the diaconate in June 2003.

In November 2010 Tony started working in school chaplaincy at St Joseph’s College and The John Fisher school where his time was divided equally between the two for six years. In 2011 Wendy and he moved to Caterham, but Tony continued to serve at St Andrew’s Thornton Heath. In September 2023 Tony moved parishes to St Aidan’s, which is nearer to his home. He has enjoyed catching up with parishioners, some of whom he has known for over fifty years.