He said: "The rear of the picture has the words "The Norbury Studios' printed on it which was a firm of photographers operating from 1447 London Road, Norbury, in the 1930s.

"I assume the priest was active in the Croydon or Norbury area in the 1920s and 30s and any information about him your readers could supply would be very much appreciated."

Steve Roud, from Croydon Local Studies Library and Archive Service, said: "You can tell from the head dress that this is a Roman Catholic priest so we would start by looking at Roman Catholic churches in the area.

"There was a Roman Catholic church in Thornton Heath in the 1920s and it is quite possible that this church, St Andrew's in Brook Road or Beulah Road East, could be connected to the priest in the picture.

"In the 1929 street directory the pastor at this church was given as a Reverend A Browne-Mostyn so it is quite possible that this could be him."