All Souls Church, Langham Place facts for kids
Quick facts for kids All Souls Church, Langham Place |
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All Souls Church in 2011
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| Location | Regent Street, London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Conservative evangelical |
| History | |
| Consecrated | 1824 |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Architect(s) | John Nash |
| Style | Neoclassical, Regency |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Diocese of London |
All Souls Church is a special kind of Christian church in central London. It's located in a busy part of London called Langham Place, at the top of Regent Street. A famous architect named John Nash designed it in a style called Regency. The church officially opened in 1824.
Because it's right across from the BBC's main building (Broadcasting House), the church is often used for BBC broadcasts. Many people visit All Souls. About 2,500 people come for services every Sunday. The church has a diverse group of people from all over the world and of all ages.
Contents
History of All Souls Church
The church was designed by John Nash. He was a favorite architect of King George IV. Nash designed the church's unique circular tower to be a landmark. It marks a sharp bend in Regent Street. This street was part of Nash's plan to connect Piccadilly with the new Regent's Park.
All Souls was one of the "Commissioners' churches." These churches received money from the government to help build them. All Souls Church was one of only two churches Nash designed for this program. It is the last church designed by John Nash that is still standing today.
The building was finished in December 1823. It officially opened the next year. The Bishop of London led the special ceremony to open it.
Church Architecture
The church is built from Bath stone, a type of limestone. It has a striking round entrance hall with a spire. This hall is connected to the main church building. The spire itself is quite unusual. It has seventeen curved sides and is surrounded by Corinthian columns.
Not everyone liked Nash's design at first. One writer in 1828 thought the main part of the church looked more like a factory than a church. They also felt the tower and spire were too small.
Royal Connection
The leader of All Souls Church, called the Rector, is chosen by the Crown. This means the British government, through 10 Downing Street, helps pick the person. This link goes back to King George IV's time. The King's Coat of Arms can still be seen inside the church.
Post-War Repairs
During the Blitz in World War II, a bomb exploded near the church in 1940. This caused some damage, especially to the ceiling. Luckily, most of the building and its furniture survived. The church was closed for about ten years for repairs. During this time, the church community met at another nearby church.
The building was restored by a respected architect named Harry Stuart Goodhart-Rendel. He also worked on the church's interior in the 1920s.
1970s Building Project
Even though it was restored in 1951, the church was changed a lot again in 1975-1976. This was a big project for a building that is historically protected. A large basement was dug under the church. This created new spaces for the church community to meet.
The floor of the church was also raised to make room for the basement. This changed how the inside of the church looked. The galleries (balconies) inside were also replaced and extended. The new basement hall was built in a 1970s style. You can even see the original brick foundations of the church there.
At the same time, the inside of the church was updated for modern worship. Most of the original furniture was removed. Only the organ case and the reredos (a screen behind the altar) remained. The church now uses movable chairs and tables. This allows the space to be used for different activities.
Music and Organ
All Souls Church is famous for its music. It has a special organ located in the west gallery. The organ was originally built by Hunter and has a beautiful Spanish mahogany case. Over the years, the organ has been updated and rebuilt several times.
The church's music combines both modern and traditional styles. They use a worship band, orchestra, and choir for their Sunday services. The All Souls Orchestra was started in 1972. They have played with famous Christian artists like Sir Cliff Richard. The orchestra and a large choir perform every year at the Royal Albert Hall for a concert called "Prom Praise." They also tour around the UK and other countries. There's even a "Prom Praise for Schools" event. This gives children from London a chance to sing with the orchestra.
Present Day Services
All Souls Church holds four services every Sunday. There's an early morning service at 8:00 am. Then, two more services are held at 9:30 am and 11:30 am. An evening service takes place at 5:30 pm. There is also a service during the week on Thursdays at 1:05 pm.
Recordings of the Sunday sermons are available online for free. The church has an archive of over 3,000 sermons.
The church follows a traditional Christian teaching within the Church of England. Because of its beliefs, it receives special guidance from the Bishop of Ebbsfleet (currently Rob Munro).
Church Leaders
The current leader of All Souls Church is the Reverend Charlie Skrine. He started his role on April 28, 2021.
One of the most well-known leaders of the church was John Stott. He was connected to All Souls for almost his entire life. John Stott wrote over fifty Christian books. He was seen as an important leader in the Christian world during the 20th century. He worked at All Souls from 1945 to 1950. Then, he was the Rector from 1950 to 1975. After that, he continued to be involved with the church until he passed away in 2011. Many people remember him as someone who greatly influenced Christian faith.
The Reverend Richard Bewes was Rector from 1983 until 2004. He received an award for his service to the Church of England. The Reverend Hugh Palmer was Rector from 2005 until 2020. He was also a chaplain to Queen Elizabeth II for some time.
Another notable former leader is Rico Tice. He created a course called "Christianity Explored." This course helps people learn about Christian beliefs.
List of Rectors
- George Chandler, Rector 1825–1847
- Charles Baring, Rector 1847–1855, later Bishop of Gloucester
- William Thomson, Rector 1855–1861, later Archbishop of York
- Edward Revell Eardley-Wilmot, Vicar 1855–1861, Rector 1861–1872
- John Minet Freshfield, Rector 1873–1878
- Sholto D. C. Douglas, Rector 1878–1886
- William Hay Chapman, Rector 1886–1893
- Johnston Hamilton Acheson, Rector 1893–1898
- Francis Scott Webster, Rector 1898–1920
- Arthur Buxton, Rector 1920–1936
- Harold Earnshaw Smith, Rector 1936–1950
- John Stott, Rector 1950–1975
- Michael Baughen, Rector 1975–1982, later Bishop of Chester
- Richard Bewes, Rector 1983–2004
- Hugh Palmer, Rector 2005–2020
- Charlie Skrine, Rector 2021–
See Also
