Our Lady of Victories, Kensington facts for kids
Our Lady of Victories is a Roman Catholic church located in Kensington, London. The first church building opened in 1869. For many years, it was the main church for the Archdiocese of Westminster, acting as a "pro-cathedral" (a temporary main church). Sadly, this original church was destroyed by bombs in 1940 during World War II. The church you see today was built later and opened in 1959. You can find it on Kensington High Street in Kensington.
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History of Our Lady of Victories
Catholic Worship Returns to England
For a long time, public Catholic church services were not allowed in England. This changed around 1794. Many French people, including priests and nuns, came to Kensington to escape the French Revolution. They were welcomed, and since then, Catholic worship has continued in the area without interruption.
Before this, Catholic Mass was usually held in secret places, like private homes or embassies. In 1866, the Carmelites opened the first Catholic church in Kensington.
The First Church Building
The first Our Lady of Victories church was designed by a famous architect named George Goldie. His grandson, Joseph Goldie, later designed the entrance screen. The church officially opened on July 2, 1869.
It became the "pro-cathedral" for the Archdiocese of Westminster. This meant it was the main church for the area until a bigger, permanent cathedral could be built. Our Lady of Victories served in this important role until Westminster Cathedral opened in 1903.
Special Events at the Church
Our Lady of Victories hosted many important events. In 1887, during Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee, a special High Mass was held. Important Catholic leaders from England attended this grand service.
The next year, in 1888, another big event took place. It celebrated 50 years since Pope Leo XIII became a priest. During this event, a song called "God Bless Our Pope" was sung for the very first time in public. It was written by a priest from Our Lady of Victories, Fr Charles Cox.
The Our Lady of Victories School also started in the late 1800s. The local priest set up a "Poor School" to help educate children in the community.
Church Destroyed and Rebuilt
On September 13, 1940, during World War II, four German bombs hit the church roof. In just a few hours, the church was completely destroyed by fire. Luckily, the Blessed Sacrament (a very important part of Catholic worship) was saved by the priests.
After the war ended, rebuilding could finally begin. For a while, the parish didn't have a church building. Daily Mass and other services continued without stopping. They were held in different places, like a local cinema, a furniture store, and even a nearby Congregational Church.
Many priests worked hard to raise money for a new church. In 1952, Adrian Gilbert Scott was chosen to design the new building. The rebuilt Our Lady of Victories church officially opened on April 16, 1959. Later, on May 26, 1971, the church and its altar were formally blessed in a special ceremony.
The Current Church Building
The church building you see today was built in 1957. It was designed by Adrian Gilbert Scott. It also includes the entrance screen from the 1930s by Joseph Goldie. Since 2016, it has been recognized as a Grade II listed building, meaning it's an important historical structure.
The church has beautiful stained-glass windows. These were created by C. F. Blakeman with help from a special grant. In the 1980s, a large crucifix was moved to a different part of the church. A new bronze sculpture of the Risen Christ was placed above the sanctuary. This sculpture was made by Michael Clark. His father, Lindsay Clark, created the statue of Our Lady that stands above the main entrance on High Street.
Work is always ongoing to improve the church. In the 2010s, projects included making it easier for people with disabilities to access the church. They also renovated the large community spaces located beneath the church.
