A majestic dome. That’s the first thing you notice about St Joseph’s Church in Highgate. This isn’t just any church. It’s a landmark visible from various points across London.
St Joseph’s is a significant part of Highgate’s history. Founded in 1858 by the Passionist Congregation it’s a Grade II listed building. It boasts a fascinating past. Father Ignatius Spencer a convert to Catholicism and a Passionist himself established it.
Initially housed in the Old Black Dog Inn a chapel on the ground floor and living quarters above served the community. The first church built in 1861-63 proved too small. The current church a stunning blend of Romanesque and Byzantine styles followed. Architect Albert Vicars designed the magnificent structure. Its construction started in 1888 and opened in 1889. The Bishop of Liverpool presided. A special Jubilee celebration for Pope Leo XIII marked the occasion. The church wasn’t consecrated until 1932 though. That’s when the debt finally cleared.
The massive copper dome weighs an estimated 2000 tons a true testament to the craftsmanship. St Joseph’s Retreat the home of the Passionist community is attached to the east end.
Step inside. Marvel at the Stations of the Cross large painted reliefs by F Devriendt. They date back to 1886. The high altar’s canopy crafted from Sicilian marble is breathtaking. Notice the mosaic pavement in the sanctuary. It’s made from rock from the River Severn bed.
The sanctuary’s walls boast C Langlin’s paintings. Explore the chapels each with its own unique character. The northeast chapel dedicated to Passionist saints features a painting of St Paul of the Cross by M A Laby.
The Lady Chapel dating from 1958 holds a Carrara marble Virgin statue. It’s by Porter of Fulham a relic from the earlier chapel. The northeast chapel features a stunning wooden sculpture of St Dominic Barberi by John O’Rourke created in 1999.
St Michael’s Chapel’s marble altar and rails were famously showcased at the 1889 Paris Exhibition. It commemorates Rev Michael Watts Russell. The Martyrs Chapel houses a moving oil painting of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales.
Look up. Gaze at the painted ceiling Nathaniel Westlake’s masterpiece from 1891. It features 250 panels each with an angel and a verse from the Te Deum. The four-manual organ by William Hill & Sons installed after the Second World War serves as a memorial to local victims.
The stained glass clerestory windows on each side wall tell their own stories. The south depicts the Crucifixion the north the Holy Family. Between them are Westlake’s paintings illustrating the Mysteries of the Rosary.
St Joseph’s Church Highgate. More than just a place of worship. It’s a living testament to faith history and artistic brilliance. A true jewel of London.