Here, on Pottery Lane, stands St Francis Of Assisi Church. Have you noticed how it seems almost hidden within this busy area? This location was chosen to serve the poor Catholics of Notting Dale. Many were Irish immigrants working in potteries or pig breeding.
Let’s step back in time. The story of St Francis Of Assisi Church begins in the mid-19th century. Cardinal Wiseman asked Dr Henry Edward Manning to found the Order of the Oblates of St Charles in London. This order was dedicated to serving in parishes. Father Henry Augustus Rawes was put in charge. He paid for the church, presbytery and school.
The church’s construction started in 1859. Henry Clutton and John Francis Bentley designed it. Bentley initially assisted Clutton. He designed the furnishings. St Francis Of Assisi Church opened on February 2 1860. However, the church quickly became too small.
Bentley was hired to design extensions from 1861. This became his first independent commission. He added a presbytery, baptistery and porch. Bentley designed the St John side altar in March 1861. Nathaniel Westlake painted the panels. In 1863, the Lady Chapel altar and high altar were added. Renovations continued with a porch and chancel in 1864.
Bentley later donated items. These included a baptismal font cover and candlesticks. Between 1865 and 1870, the Stations of the Cross were constructed. Westlake designed them. Bentley converted to Catholicism in 1862. He even took Francis as his middle name. He was reportedly the first person baptised in the font he designed.
Over the years, St Francis Of Assisi Church saw further additions. Osmond Bentley, John’s son, worked on the baptistery. New stained-glass windows were added. The interior of St Francis Of Assisi Church is striking.
Clutton’s exterior brickwork gives little hint of the colours inside. Gilt-decorated ceilings catch the eye. Red and black patterned tiling adds warmth. Bright stained glass windows illuminate the space. Elaborate fittings showcase Bentley’s talent. The High Altar shows Burges’s influence on Bentley. Thomas Earp and his Lambeth men did all the carving.
The Lady Chapel is dedicated to Our Lady of the Seven Dolours. Westlake’s paintings depict scenes of Christ. A statue of St Francis stands at the chapel’s edge. Bentley’s love of colour is evident throughout St Francis Of Assisi Church.
The altar to St John has an altarpiece showing the saint giving communion to Our Lady. Bentley also designed the font. He was baptised here by Cardinal Wiseman. This event was very meaningful for him.
St Francis Of Assisi Church has been redecorated over time. Yet Bentley’s fittings and Westlake’s paintings are preserved. Christopher Martin called it one of the best loved small churches in London. The church reminds us of the vibrant faith. It is a lasting testament to artistic dedication.