The parish of Saint Teresa Rochford was founded in 1953 by Father Francis Branney, who bought Sweynes farm house and adjoining land; The original church was on the corner of Ashingdon Road and Roche Avenue on the site of what is now Suffolk Court and was served from Our Lady of Ransom, Rayleigh. Fr Branney lived to see St Teresa’s Primary School built in 1974, but sadly not the new church, which was built under Fr Pat Kavannagh in 1977.

The site also has a parish hall which was built in 2001. It is used during the week by Saint Teresa‘s preschool, and also serves the local community in a variety of ways.