“Did you notice the inscription?” I ask gesturing towards the Roman Catholic Church of St Peter and St Paul. This isn’t just another church. It carries a hidden history within its walls. The Roman Catholic Church of St Peter and St Paul started as something quite different.
Let’s step back in time. The year is 1835. A lady named Countess of Huntingdon’s Connexion built this very structure. It wasn’t a Catholic church then. It was the Northampton Tabernacle. John Blyth designed this non-conformist chapel. The building served a different religious purpose.
Notice the neo-classical style. The gold stock bricks create a striking facade. Stucco details adorn the ground floor. Rusticated quoins add to its refined appearance. This building was part of a contemporary terrace. It seamlessly blended into the Amwell Street scene.
Take a closer look at the Amwell Street facade of the Roman Catholic Church of St Peter and St Paul. Three window ranges define the symmetrical design. A projecting central bay draws your eye. Steps lead to deeply recessed entrances. Each entrance features architraves and keystones. Paired panelled doors welcome visitors. The central bay boasts a grand Ionic pilastrade.
Above the main entrance of the Roman Catholic Church of St Peter and St Paul. Can you make out the faint inscription? It reads “Northampton Tabernacle”. This is a subtle reminder of its past. The ground floor has unique window designs. The center door is flanked by fixed sashes. Outer bays display rectangular overlights.
Moving to the first floor. A stucco storey band adds definition. Corbels decorate the outer bays. The central bay features a Venetian window. Irregular multi-paned glazing catches the light. Round-arched sashes flank the central window. Balustraded bases add a touch of elegance. The stucco cornice and parapet complete the facade. The heightened blocking course proudly states “Erected 1835.”
Now let’s venture inside the Roman Catholic Church of St Peter and St Paul. The interior reflects a plain neo-classical style. It has undergone remodelling in the 20th century. Blind arcading lines the east end. Corinthian pilasters support the structure. Plaster side walls feature a 19th-century dado. A modillioned cornice adds detail. The flat ceiling showcases square coffering. Gilded rosettes and cast iron ceiling roses provide ornamentation.
The Roman Catholic Church of St Peter and St Paul has a fine 19th-century gallery at the rear and sides. Slender cast-iron Ionic columns support it. Cast-iron panels with gilded Gothic-style tracery decorate the balustrade. Limited fenestration graces the side walls. A shallow vestibule leads to the chapel’s rear. Staircases access the flanking galleries.
The Northampton Tabernacle transitioned to Roman Catholic use. In 1847, it was leased to Roman Catholics. Before becoming the Roman Catholic Church of St. Peter and St. Paul it was known as the Rosoman Street Mission. The Roman Catholic Church of St Peter and St Paul was listed on 29 September 1972. It is a Grade II listed building.
So, as you stand before the Roman Catholic Church of St Peter and St Paul. Remember its layered history. From a non-conformist chapel to a Roman Catholic church. This building has witnessed change and adaptation. It stands as a testament to Islington’s evolving religious landscape.