Is it possible that the bricks of St Michael’s Camden Town whisper tales of a mission that began in a betting shop? This is St Michael’s Church. It is the principal Church of England Parish Church for Camden Town.
St Michael’s began as a church planting mission in 1877. Father Edward Bainbridge Penfold directed it. The congregation first met for Mass at 5A Camden Road. It was a few doors away from the current church. That building now houses a betting shop. A service was celebrated there in 2002. It marked the parish’s 125th anniversary. The church was named after St Michael Queenhithe. It was demolished in 1876 to fund the Camden mission.
The present building was the first London church designed by Bodley and Garner. It is built of brick with stone dressings. The style is decorated Gothic. Construction started in 1880. Bishop Walsham How consecrated the nave on Michaelmas 1881. The chancel and north chapel were added between 1892 and 1894. William Temple Bishop of London consecrated them. He later became Archbishop of Canterbury. A northwest tower was planned but never built. The west front was restored in 2005. A new roof was completed in August 2007. A small community garden sits next to St Michael’s Camden Town. It features a War Memorial.
Inside St Michael’s Camden Town there is a continuous stenciled waggon ceiling. It covers both nave and chancel. The high altar in the chancel has a stenciled reredos. It shows the Risen Christ. Seven lamps hang above. A threefold Sedilia is in the south wall of the Sanctuary. The north chapel has a stone quadripartite ribbed vaulted ceiling. It also has an Easter Sepulchre.
The South Aisle holds the organ. A side chapel at the east end shows a Calvary Scene. There is also a shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham. Fourteen Stations of the Cross surround the nave. They are in both the north and south aisles. At the west end there is a Font. It has an intricate 19th century cover. Since 2015, St Michael’s Camden Town hosts a contemporary art installation. It is behind the font and was created by the Royal Academy’s Maciej Urbanek. The Work is titled ‘HS’. It presents an abstract take on the Holy Spirit. It won the 2015 ACE Award for Art in a Religious Context. St Michael’s Camden Town is Grade II* listed. This is due to its interior.
In 1954, the parish of St Michael’s absorbed those of All Saints, Camden Town. All Saints had become a Greek Orthodox church in 1948. It also absorbed St Thomas, Agar Town. Its 1864 building was demolished due to war damage. From 2003 to 2023 St Michael’s was part of the Old St Pancras Parish.
St Michael’s Camden Town has an active ministry. It serves the homeless and refugees. It often speaks out on local social issues. It featured in the BBC series The Power and the Glory. It hosted the launch of the ‘Faithful Cities’ report.
Note the memorial to founding priest Edward Penfold. But where is his tomb? Aerated bread proved a mortal foe. Admire the windows’ detail. They were created by C E Kempe. Find out about the saints shown in them. How do they link to the people in whose memory they were made? Hear about the Germanic Kalthoeber. One of 100 names is on the war memorial. Marvel at the modern art installation on the Holy Spirit. How does it link to the font’s symbolism? Compare the 20th-century statues of St Michael. Also see the painted ceiling.
St Michael’s Camden Town stands not only as a testament to architectural beauty. It also stands as a beacon of hope and community. A place where history and art intertwine.