St Clement's Church, King Square facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Clement's, King Square |
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| St Clement's Church, King Square London |
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| Location | King Square, City of London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Anglo-Catholic |
| History | |
| Founded | 1824 |
| Architecture | |
| Years built | 1824 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Parish of St Clement with St Barnabas and St Matthew, Finsbury |
| Archdeaconry | Archdeaconry of London |
| Diocese | Diocese of London |
St Clement's Church, King Square, is a historic church in London. It belongs to the Church of England. You can find it in Finsbury, a part of Central London. It's right next to King Square, not far from City Road. This church is an important part of the local community.
Contents
Building the Church
How the Church Was Started
In 1822, a group called the Church Building Commission bought land in King Square. They bought it from St Bartholomew's Hospital. Their plan was to build a new church. This church would face a new garden square. The square was being built with homes for middle-class families.
The first stone for the church was laid on January 27, 1822. Many people helped build it. This included French ex-prisoners-of-war and people from the local area.
Who Designed the Church?
A famous architect named Philip Hardwick designed the church. He was known for his neo-classical style. He also designed the Euston Arch. The church's design was inspired by ancient Greek buildings. It used the Ionic style, which has special columns.
Even though it looked Greek, the church also had a tall, thin spire. Spires are usually found on Gothic buildings. The church was finished in July 1824. It cost about £17,000 to build.
Early Days of the Church
When it was first built, the church could hold 1600 people. It had galleries on three sides for extra seating. On June 12, 1826, it was officially opened. It was named St Barnabas, King Square.
At that time, the church was part of the St Luke's parish. A parish is like a local church area. In 1846, St Barnabas became its own separate parish.
The Church in the 20th Century
Damage During World War II
In 1940, during the London Blitz, the church was damaged. German bombs hit the church and nearby homes. The church was burned inside.
After the war, the church was repaired. In 1953, architects and a designer named Norman Haines worked on it. They made the inside of the church grand and beautiful. They added large Corinthian columns and a neo-classical plaster ceiling.
Rebuilding and New Name
Some parts from another church, St Clement's, were used. An old 18th-century pulpit from St Marylebone chapel was also brought in. The altar was placed under a special canopy called a baldacchino. Two large classical urns stood next to the altar.
The repairs were finished in 1952. Because other churches were badly damaged, their parishes joined together. The parishes of St Barnabas, St Clement, and St Matthew united. On June 12, 1954, the church was opened again. Its name changed to St Clement with St Barnabas and St Matthew. People often call it St Clement's Finsbury for short.
Today, the church building is a Grade II listed building. This means it's an important historic building. It is the only building left from the original King Square built in 1822.
The Church Organ
The church has a special organ. It was built in the 1870s by a famous organ builder known as "Father" Willis. The organ was first in a church called St Thomas, Agar Town. When St Clement's was rebuilt in the 1950s, the organ was moved there. Manders, another company, made some changes to it.
