St Dominic's Priory Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of Our Lady of the Rosary and St Dominic |
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| Location | London, NW5 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Catholic |
| Website | rosaryshrine.co.uk |
| History | |
| Dedication | Our Lady of the Rosary and St Dominic |
| Consecrated | 1883 |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Architect(s) | Gilbert Blount and Charles Alban Buckler |
| Style | Neo-Gothic |
| Completed | 1890 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Brick, stone and marble |
| Bells | 1 |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | Westminster |
| Province | Westminster |
St Dominic's Priory Church is also known as "Our Lady of the Rosary and St Dominic". It is one of the biggest Catholic churches in London. This church is a very important building. It is listed as a Grade II* building. This means it has special historical or architectural importance.
The church has been looked after by the Order of Preachers, also called Dominicans, since 1861. The Dominicans are a group of Catholic priests and brothers. They live in the building next to the church, called the Priory. In 2016, the church became a special "diocesan shrine". This means it's a place where people go to pray and learn about the Rosary.
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Where is St Dominic's Church?
The church and its Priory are located in Southampton Road. This is just south of Hampstead Heath. It is also close to Belsize Park.
You can get there by public transport. The closest tube stations are Belsize Park and Chalk Farm tube station. Both are on the Northern line. You can also use Hampstead Heath railway station and Gospel Oak railway station. These are on the London Overground line. All stations are about a 15-minute walk away.
The History of St Dominic's
The Dominican Friars first came to this area in 1861. They set up a community of friars in the Priory. There were also Dominican Sisters living nearby. A group of Lay Dominicans, who are regular people, meet there every month.
The Priory building opened in 1867. The church itself was built later, in 1883. A kind lady named Countess Tasker helped a lot. She gave money to build the church. The road leading to the Priory, Tasker Road, is named after her.
In 1900, something interesting was found. A stone pillar from an old medieval building was discovered. This building was called the London Black Friars. It was a very old Dominican place. The pillar was moved and placed inside St Dominic's church.
The church is still called Our Lady of the Rosary and Saint Dominic. In 2021, parts of the church were cleaned and fixed. This included the apse and the main altar. The beautiful paintings called the Stations of the Cross were also restored. These were painted by Philip Westlake in 1887. New lights were also put in the fourteen Rosary Chapels.
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The church has two memorials for soldiers. These soldiers died in World War I. One is a large stone tablet near the main door. It lists the names of local soldiers who died. The stone came from a quarry in France. A famous artist named Eric Gill carved the letters. It was shown to the public in 1921.
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The other memorial is a stone statue of Joan of Arc. It is near the Rosary Chapel. This statue remembers a soldier who died in 1915. He was killed in a battle at Ypres.
How the Church is Designed
The church's design is based on the Rosary prayer. There are fourteen small chapels on each side of the main area. Each chapel shows one of the "Mysteries of the Rosary". These mysteries are stories from the life of Jesus and Mary. They are divided into Joyful, Sorrowful, and Glorious groups.
The fifteenth Mystery is shown in the apse. This is the curved area around the main altar. When the church was finished in 1883, it was special. It was probably the first church in the world to have separate chapels for each Rosary Mystery. Each chapel has its own altar. It also has a stone carving showing a specific Mystery.
Newer mysteries, called the Luminous Mysteries, were added in 2002. They are remembered in a special Rosary Garden. This garden is behind the Lady Chapel. You can get to it through the Lady Chapel porch. The church was built by Charles Alban Buckler. Many people think this church is his best work.
The Church Community
The friars and sisters at St Dominic's help the local community. About 500 people, including families, visit the church each weekend. Many pilgrims and visitors also come to the Shrine. In May and October, there is a special Rosary Procession. It happens every Saturday evening with torches. People come from all over the area to join.
The Friars also do many other things. They help in hospitals, universities, and schools. They visit prisons and teach adults. They also teach theology, scripture, and philosophy. They even publish books and do advanced studies.
Dominican Sisters from the St Joseph Congregation also help the parish. They teach children about the sacraments. St Dominic's is also where the head of the Dominican friars in England and Scotland lives. Next to the church is a Catholic primary school. It is also called St Dominic's.
See also
