Holy Cross Church, St Pancras facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Holy Cross Church, St Pancras |
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| Location | Cromer Street, London, WC1H 8JU |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Anglo-Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Parish church |
| Heritage designation | Grade II listed |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Holy Cross with St. Jude and St. Peter, St. Pancras |
| Deanery | South Camden |
| Archdeaconry | Archdeaconry of Hampstead |
| Episcopal area | Edmonton Episcopal Area |
| Diocese | Diocese of London |
Holy Cross Church is a historic church located on Cromer Street in the St Pancras area of London. It was built between 1887 and 1888 and was designed by the architect Joseph Peacock. Today, it is an active Church of England church that serves its local community.
Contents
History of the Church
The story of Holy Cross Church began in 1876. At first, it was a small chapel serving a specific district. By 1888, it had grown and became its own official parish church.
Joining with other churches
Over the years, the church's parish grew by joining with others.
- In 1935, it merged with the parish of St. Jude's, whose church building was taken down in 1936.
- In 1954, it merged with the parish of St Peter's, Regent Square. St. Peter's church had been badly damaged during the Blitz (a bombing campaign in World War II) and was later demolished.
These mergers helped create the larger parish that Holy Cross Church serves today.
Helping the community
In the 1980s, the area around King's Cross station faced many social challenges. Holy Cross Church became a place of support for people in need. In 1988, the church opened its Crypt Centre, a project created to help homeless people in the area.
In November 1982, the church became the site of a famous 12-day protest. A group of women held a peaceful sit-in inside the church to raise awareness about what they felt was unfair treatment by the police. The church's leader at the time, Reverend Trevor Richardson, allowed the protest to continue as long as it did not disrupt church services. He believed it was important to listen to the women's concerns and address the problems in society that led to their protest.
Art and Architecture
Holy Cross Church is recognized for its historical and architectural importance. On 14 May 1974, it was made a Grade II listed building. This special status means the building is protected by law because of its unique character.
Inside a small chapel within the church, you can see a painting called Santa Maria Magdalena. It was created by the artist Reginald Gray.
Notable People
- Hope Patten was a clergyman who worked at Holy Cross Church as a curate (an assistant priest) in the 1910s. He later became well-known for his work in other churches.
