Built of Bath stone with a tiled roof Christ the King Church stands proudly in London’s Bloomsbury. This magnificent Grade I listed building is a testament to the architectural prowess of Raphael Brandon. He designed the church between 1850 and 1854 for the Catholic Apostolic Church also known as Irvingites. Its construction however remained incomplete. Two bays on the west side were never finished. This left the west end unfinished in brick except for a stone entrance. A planned facade and a towering 150ft spire were never realized. The tower base exists but features mostly blind arcading.
The church’s Early English Neo-Gothic style is captivating. Its cruciform plan boasts a nave with a full triforium and clerestory. Side aisles a sanctuary and a Lady Chapel complete the layout. Notice the octagonal corner turrets. They feature gabled niches and terminate in spires with gablets. The facade’s pinnacled buttresses and corbelled parapets add to its impressive character.
The main entrance on Gordon Street leads through a gabled porch. This porch has angle buttresses a pointed arch door and intricate window tracery above. It connects to the Lady Chapel via an octagonal turret. The church is remarkably spacious. Its five-bay nave is only 13 feet shorter than Westminster Abbey’s nave. The nave’s timber hammer beam roof is a masterpiece. It features intricately carved angels and central bosses in a snowflake design. A cathedra for the Catholic Apostolic Church’s angel a role similar to a bishop is also within the nave.
The south transept’s windows are particularly noteworthy. The lancets depict Christ in Majesty surrounded by saints apostles angels and the earth below. The rose window created by Archibald Keightley Nicholson is equally stunning. It features a central dove surrounded by musician angels cherubim and seraphim.
The sanctuary’s stone rib-vaulting and foliated bosses are beautiful. A sanctuary lamp by Augustus Pugin completes the impressive space. The Lady Chapel formerly the English Chapel is separated from the sanctuary by a screen. It boasts a richly painted timber roof a stone angel and its own east facade with arcaded lancet windows. In 1853 a remarkable organ was installed. It was a three-manual organ with pedals boasting a total of 43 stops and 6 couplers. One of its early organists was Edmund Hart Turpin. Later additions included a 16ft sub bass to the choir organ.
Christ the King Church has served various congregations. From 1963 to 1994 it was the University Church of Christ the King. It served the Anglican Chaplaincy to nearby universities. It functioned as a worship centre for students and was occasionally used for citywide events. Currently both the Anglican Euston Church and the Anglican Forward in Faith movement utilise the church for services. This rich history makes Christ the King Church a remarkable landmark in London. It is a place where history architecture and faith intertwine beautifully.