Allow me to introduce you to St. Gregory’s, a true hidden gem in the heart of London. It’s not just any Catholic church. It holds the distinction of being the oldest Catholic church in England still in Catholic hands. The tale of St. Gregory’s begins not on Warwick Street, its current home, but in the 1730s at the Portuguese Embassy in Golden Square. A small chapel served the embassy staff and London’s Catholic community. This arrangement was a necessity due to the Penal Laws, which restricted Catholic worship. In 1747, the chapel’s care shifted to the Bavarian Embassy, a period marked by a dramatic event. The Gordon Riots of 1780 destroyed the chapel’s interior. Undeterred, the community, with support from the Elector of Bavaria himself, commissioned a new church. Designed by Joseph Bonomi the Elder, the new building, dedicated in 1790, forms the core of St. Gregory’s as we see it today. Notice the unassuming brick exterior. It was a deliberate choice, a quiet response to the destruction of its predecessor. The gilded stars and angels you see were added much later in the 1950s. Step inside, and you’ll find a blend of Georgian elegance and Victorian restoration. John Erlam’s 1853 renovations and John Francis Bentley’s later work in the sanctuary add layers of history to the interior. St. Gregory’s has witnessed countless moments of both personal devotion and historical significance. Queen Mary sought solace here during the 1936 abdication crisis. Notable figures like Cardinal Newman, Daniel O’Connell, and Evelyn Waugh graced its pews. Even Sir Richard Burton, the famed explorer and translator of the Kama Sutra, was married here. St. Gregory’s remains a vibrant part of London’s spiritual landscape. It stands as a testament to the enduring faith of the Catholic community, a beacon of resilience in a city steeped in history.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to