Chelsea Old Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chelsea Old Church |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Location | Old Church Street and Cheyne Walk, London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Traditional (Book of Common Prayer) |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Years built | 12th century |
| Specifications | |
| Number of towers | One |
| Bells | 8 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Diocese of London |
Chelsea Old Church, also known as All Saints, is a very old and important Anglican church. It's located on Old Church Street in Chelsea, London, close to Albert Bridge. This church is part of the Diocese of London. It's a Grade I listed building, which means it's considered a very special historic place. Inside, there's space for about 400 people. You can find a memorial plaque for the famous author Henry James here. Outside the church, there's a small public garden with a sculpture by Sir Jacob Epstein.
Contents
History of Chelsea Old Church
How the Church Began
Chelsea Old Church has a long history, starting around 1157. It was once the main church for the village of Chelsea. Over many years, London grew bigger and eventually surrounded Chelsea. The church building has parts from the 13th century, like the chancel (the area near the altar). It also has chapels built around 1325. The main part of the church, called the nave, and its tower were built in 1670.
Sir Thomas More's Chapel
Some parts of the church were once private chapels. The one on the north side was called the Lawrence Chapel. It belonged to the Lord of the Manor of Chelsea. The chapel on the south side was rebuilt in 1528. This became the private chapel of Sir Thomas More, a very important English lawyer and statesman. You can see the date 1528 on one of the pillars near the chancel. It's believed that the famous artist Hans Holbein the Younger might have designed these pillars. Outside the church, facing the river, there's a statue of Sir Thomas More by Leslie Cubitt Bevis.
Interesting Features from the 1600s
Inside the church, you'll find a memorial from 1669 for Lady Jane Cheyne. This beautiful memorial was designed by the son of a famous Italian sculptor named Gian Lorenzo Bernini. It was then made by Bernini's favorite sculptor, Antonio Raggi.
Chelsea Old Church is special because it's the only church in London with chained books. These books were a gift from Sir Hans Sloane, a famous doctor and collector. He was also a Member of Parliament and president of the Royal Society. The chained books include a copy of the "Vinegar Bible" from 1717. It's called that because of a printing mistake in the word 'vineyard'. There are also two volumes of Foxe's Book of Martyrs (from 1684), a 1723 Book of Common Prayer, and a 1683 edition of The Books of Homilies.
The Church in Art
In the 1800s, Chelsea Old Church appeared in several paintings by famous artists like James McNeill Whistler and J. M. W. Turner. In these paintings, you usually only see the church's tower in the distance. The church was painted white during that century. For example, you can see the church in the background of Whistler's painting Nocturne: Blue and Gold - Old Battersea Bridge, painted around 1872–1875.
World War II Damage and Rebuilding
During the Second World War, London was heavily bombed in what was called the Blitz. On April 14, 1941, Chelsea Old Church was badly damaged by a parachute mine. Most of the church and its tower were destroyed. Luckily, the Thomas More Chapel was not as badly hit. For nine years after the bombing, church services were held in the nearby Cheyne Hospital.
Bringing the Church Back to Life
After the war, the church was carefully restored. In 1950, the More Chapel was reopened. Then, in May 1954, the chancel and Lawrence Chapel were also reopened after being restored by architect Walter Godfrey. The church was officially listed as Grade I historic building on June 24, 1954. In May 1958, the entire church was blessed again by the Bishop of London. Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother was there for the special event. The church was rebuilt on its original foundations and now looks much like it did before World War II. Many of the old tombs and monuments inside were saved and put back together, almost like a jigsaw puzzle. Some of the original stained glass from the 1500s was also preserved.
In 2000, the Museum of London Archaeological Services did an archaeological dig at the church's cemetery.
Burials at Chelsea Old Church
Many notable people have been buried at Chelsea Old Church over the centuries:
- Jane Dudley, Duchess of Northumberland (died 1555)
- John Braye, 2nd Baron Braye (died 1557)
- The 10th Baron Dacre (died 1594)
- Anne, Baroness Dacre (died 1595)
- Katherine, Countess of Huntingdon (died 1620)
- Sir Robert Stanley (died 1632)
- Sir Hans Sloane (died 1753)
- Catherine Courtney, Baroness Courtney of Penwith (died 1929)
Images for kids
-
Chelsea Old Church
-
Chelsea Old Church
-
Chelsea Old Church
-
Chelsea Old Church
-
Memorial to author Henry James at Chelsea Old Church, London
