“Bombed in the blitz of 1940.” That’s quite an introduction to St. Ann’s Catholic Church, isn’t it? But don’t worry. We’re not standing on a bomb site. We’re standing at a place of resilience and community. St. Ann’s Catholic Church has a history that stretches back to 1686.
Consecrated by Bishop Henry Compton the original church was designed by William Talman. Talman worked under Sir Christopher Wren. St. Ann’s became famous for its high musical standards. Its director of music Dr William Croft wrote the tune ‘St Anne’ in 1708. You might know it as the hymn ‘O God Our Help in Ages Past’.
The tower that you can still see today isn’t the original. The first one from 1711 became unsafe. So a new one was added in 1803. Remarkably its clock is still wound by hand even now. The tower along with the historic Allen Room are the only parts of the old church that survived the bombing.
After the devastation of the Blitz the site remained a bomb site and car park for years. It was the determination of the local community that brought St. Ann’s Catholic Church back to life. In 1991 the present building was created. Funds were raised by selling part of the site to build social housing and commercial properties. This allowed for the creation of the Community Hall and the Chapel.
Look up and you’ll see the redesigned entrance featuring the church’s name in neon lights. It was dedicated by the Bishop of London in 2016. This ensures St. Ann’s remains a visible presence in the community it serves.
Even when there was no building the church community remained active. The author Dorothy L. Sayers was Churchwarden during this time. Her ashes are buried at the base of the tower. She was a key figure in the literary society surrounding St. Anne’s. The St Anne’s Society.
St. Ann’s Catholic Church has always been socially inclusive. It actively engages with its diverse community. Ken Leech a member of the clergy started the charity Centrepoint here. Centrepoint supports young homeless people and continues its work today.
In 1699 three members of the church vestry established the first Parish School. Soho Parish School still thrives. It receives strong support from the clergy of St. Anne’s and St James’s Piccadilly.
Now look towards St Anne’s Gardens the churchyard. It was leased to the City Council in 1894. It had been closed to burials forty years earlier. This was because of a sexton who illegally dumped bodies. He sold the coffins for firewood. The churchyards of London were also full. It is believed that up to 60000 bodies remain buried there. That explains why the ground is so high above Wardour Street.
So next time you see people enjoying their lunch in St Anne’s Gardens remember the history beneath their feet. St. Ann’s Catholic Church isn’t just a building. It’s a story of community resilience social action and a deep connection to its past.