St Thomas of Canterbury Church

Why was St Thomas of Canterbury Church in Fulham built? It began in 1847 a testament to the faith of Elizabeth Bowden. She founded the church in memory of her late husband JW Bowden. This beautiful building stands as the only complete Pugin church in London. Augustus Pugin designed it in the Gothic Revival style. It’s a stunning example of 13th and 14th-century English Gothic architecture. The church is Grade II* listed with Historic England. It proudly stands at 60 Rylston Road Fulham. It’s located next to Pugin’s presbytery and St Thomas’s primary school. The first purpose-built Roman Catholic church in Fulham since the Reformation it opened in 1848. John Henry Newman opened it after Bishop Thomas Griffiths died that same year. The church was designed for the many Catholic families working in the local market gardens. Pugin’s design features detailed Caen stone reredoses in the side chapels. Its striking stained-glass windows are equally impressive. The church’s tower and steeple rise to an impressive 142 feet. They face the small cemetery opened in 1849. This cemetery holds notable burials. These include Sir Thomas Henry Chief Magistrate of London. Lord and Lady Alexander Gordon-Lennox are also buried there. Mrs Elizabeth Bowden benefactress of the church and school rests here as well. Other notable figures include architects Joseph Aloysius Hansom and Herbert Gribble. Joseph Scoles also rests in this peaceful place. Three infant great-grandchildren of Charles Dickens were buried there between 1911 and 1918. The cemetery also holds three World War I officer casualties. A war memorial commemorates 59 parishioners who died in the First World War. This small walled cemetery with the war memorial the tombstone of Warrington Taylor and the Harwath Mausoleum are also Grade II listed. St Thomas of Canterbury Church remains a vibrant part of the Fulham community. It stands as a beautiful and historically significant landmark. Its rich history and architectural beauty are a testament to faith dedication and the enduring legacy of Augustus Pugin.