St Augustine's, Kilburn Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids St Augustine's, Kilburn

Location	City of Westminster, London
Country	England
Denomination	Church of England
Churchmanship	Anglo-Catholic
History
Founder(s)	Richard Carr Kirkpatrick
Dedicated	1880
Architecture
Architect(s)	John Loughborough Pearson
Years built	1871–1897
Administration
Diocese	London

Saint Augustine's, Kilburn is a beautiful Church of England church in North London, England. It's located in an area called Kilburn. People sometimes call it "the Cathedral of North London" because it's so big and fancy. But it's not a real cathedral.

History of the Church
Amazing Architecture
St Augustine's Today
Church Leaders Over Time
Gallery
See also

History of the Church

St Augustine's was started in 1870 by a person named Richard Carr Kirkpatrick. It followed a special tradition called Anglo-Catholicism. This tradition focuses on older church practices and ceremonies.

In 1871, they laid the first stone for the new building. The first church was made of iron, but soon they wanted something much grander. A famous architect named John Loughborough Pearson designed the new church. He used a style called Gothic Revival, which looks like churches from the 1200s.

The church is so important that Historic England has listed it as a Grade I building. This means it's a very special historical building.

Amazing Architecture

John Loughborough Pearson planned a church made of red brick. It has high, arched ceilings and lots of stone carvings inside. The church was officially opened in 1880. But the tall tower and spire were not finished until 1897–1898. These parts are quite amazing for a building from that time.

Sir Giles Gilbert Scott designed the reredos (which are decorative screens behind the altar) for the main altar in 1930. He also designed the reredos for the Lady Chapel and the Stations of the Cross. Even before the church was finished, a historian in 1878 said St Augustine's was "one of the finest examples of church buildings in London."

The spire is very tall, reaching over 77 metres (about 253 feet) high. The main part of the church, called the nave, was finished in 1878. It is 9 metres (28 feet) wide and has nine sections. It also has transepts (parts that stick out like arms) on the north and south sides.

The church is filled with religious art that tells many important Bible stories. Clayton and Bell made the beautiful stained glass windows. One large round window, called a rose window, shows the story of Creation. There are also nine windows high up that show different types of angels. Other windows show saints connected to England, and one shows Saint Augustine.

Paintings around the nave show stories of Jesus healing people. The chancel and sanctuary areas are covered with detailed carvings. These carvings show scenes from the suffering, crucifixion, burial, and resurrection of Christ. They also show the Apostles, saints, and other religious symbols.

The south transept leads to St Michael's Chapel. This chapel has pictures of the Eucharist (Holy Communion), sacrifice, angels, and the worship of Heaven. The Lady Chapel has paintings of the Christ child and a later carving of Jesus being presented in the Temple.

The nave (looking east)
The rood screen
The nave (looking west)
The sanctuary

St Augustine's Today

The church is a well-known landmark. It stands between the areas of Kilburn and Maida Vale. St Augustine's is also connected to two schools: St Augustine's Primary School and St Augustine's High School.

Church Leaders Over Time

Richard Carr Kirkpatrick was the first main priest, called a parish priest or vicar, at Saint Augustine's from 1870 to 1907. He started the church after leaving his previous church, St Mary's, Kilburn. At St Mary's, the new leader didn't agree with the Anglo-Catholic movement.

In 1870, Kirkpatrick helped Emily Ayckbowm start the Community of the Sisters of the Church here. This was a group of religious sisters.

Here are the vicars who have led the church since Kirkpatrick: