St Mary of Nazareth

A curious tale unfolds at St Mary of Nazareth in Clapham. Originally, the land held a grand house, once occupied by Lord Teighnmouth, a former Governor of India and president of the Bible Society. In 1848, this property became the site of St Mary of Nazareth. The Redemptorists, a newly arrived Catholic order, purchased the house and land atop Acre Lane, later renamed Clapham Park Road. Their arrival wasn’t exactly met with open arms. The first community, consisting of an Austrian, a Russian convert, and a Belgian, raised suspicion in the neighborhood during a time of strong anti-foreigner sentiment. The church itself, designed in the Gothic style by William Wardell, opened in 1851. The opening ceremony, held discreetly at 5:30 am to avoid local unrest, was attended by Cardinal Wiseman and a host of clergy. Despite the early hour, the celebrations sparked anti-Catholic demonstrations on Clapham Common. The church bells, installed in 1851, became a point of contention with a neighbor, Mr. Soltau. He sued the Redemptorists over the noise, silencing the bells for over a decade. Despite financial constraints, St Mary of Nazareth prioritized helping the poor, establishing the Society of St Vincent de Paul to provide clothing, burials, and other aid. The church also became a place of celebration for Redemptorist figures, including St. Alphonsus and Gerard Majella. The official title of St Mary’s is actually Our Immaculate Lady of Victories. The church’s design reflects the fifteen decades of the rosary. A side chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour houses a copy of an iconic 1867 painting, one of the very first copies made. In 1895, the renowned architect and parishioner, John Bentley, designed a new monastery and extended the church transept. St Mary of Nazareth continued to serve a growing congregation through the turn of the century, even as new parishes emerged in the surrounding area. The church and its community faced further challenges during the World Wars, with St Mary’s even suffering damage from a rogue barrage balloon during WWII.