History & Architecture
Our church started life as a chapel attached to a leper hospital in 15th century Knightsbridge situated between Hyde park Corner and Albert Gate. Over the years it was rebuilt a number of times but, as a result of a Commission set up in 1899 by the Bishop of London, it was arranged that the church be closed, the site sold and the proceeds put towards the building of this church building. The then vicar of Holy Trinity Knightsbridge, Henry Bartholomew Coward, became the first vicar of this church.
The story of why the church was built here on this site starts with the Great Exhibition of 1851, organised by a Commission chaired by Albert, husband of Queen Victoria and the prince Consort of this postal address.
“The Exhibition was an enormous success and made a substantial profit. The Commission, about to be dissolved, was enjoined by a Royal Charter to remain constituted and to administer the profits for charitable purposes. To this end the Commission purchased 86 acres of land in South Kensington and established the unique cultural site of three great museums, the Royal Albert Hall and institutions of learning, including Imperial College and the Royal Colleges of Art and Music. It continues to own the freehold of, and manage, much of this estate.”
The Commission still exists but, back in 1901, it uniquely sold the Church of England the freehold of this site out of those 86 acres, on which to build a church to serve what was perceived to be a growing population in this neighbourhood.
The current building was designed by the architect GF Bodley in the Perpendicular style. It was his last work that commenced in 1901 and was completed in 1907 . It is a testament to his English Gothic style and proved quite a challenge to fit on a north-south axis rather than the more common east-west one. It speaks to the architect’s skills that you don’t even notice that there are no windows on the wall which adjoins Imperial College.
Stained Glass Windows
There are many stained glass windows to enjoy. Look back at the window above the entrance doors to see the crests of England, Scotland and Wales, an echo to the Patron Saints depicted on the reredos opposite.
The west window was designed in 1925 as the memorial to the men of the parish who died in the First World War. It shows Old Testament heroes and warrior saints, the crests of the dominions of the Empire, and a mighty army advancing.
St Cecilia appears a number of times in our stained glass, as do the words, “O come let us sing unto the Lord.” Highly appropriate given our position opposite the Royal College of Music and a few hundred yards from the Royal Albert Hall.
Grade 1 Listed Building
The church can be easily unnoticed from the street as it is flush with the pavement. But, having entered, you will be struck by the height of the ceiling designed to represent God as “the high and lofty one that inhabiteth eternity”. You may well agree with the description in a recent Open House guide that this Grade 1 listed building impresses the visitor with its “forest of slender piers floating up through a brightly daylighted space to the delicately vaulted roof with its highly ornate and richly coloured furnishings”.
Turning left from the entrance door you will find the font with its striking turquoise and gold cover intended to match the reredos – the screen behind the altar built from generous donations from the public, in memory of Bodley and to his own design.
Music plays an important part in every church and this one is no exception. The organ had been made in 1897 for the original church in Knightsbridge and rebuilt here, with a refit in the 1950s.
Second World War
During the second World War, a bomb fell in nearby Queen’s Gate and the church was used as a temporary mortuary. If you look carefully you may see some cracks that remain in the walls from that explosion.
The church continues to develop in order to serve the local community. In 2017, internal glass doors were installed at the main door allowing passers by to see into the church before entering and allowing services to continue without the distraction of traffic noise.
More detailed information about the history of the church and about the stained glass windows is available at the entrance to the church.