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St Patrick's Church, Soho Square facts for kids

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St Patrick, Soho Square (geograph 2644207)
Exterior of St Patrick's Church

St Patrick's Church is a big Roman Catholic church located in Soho Square, London. People often call it "St Pat's" for short. It was first opened as a small chapel on September 29, 1792. This was a very important event because it was one of the first Catholic buildings allowed in Great Britain after a big historical change called the Reformation. During the Reformation, the official religion in England changed, and for a long time, Catholic churches were not allowed to be built openly.

The church building you see today was built much later, between 1891 and 1893. It was designed by an architect named John Kelly from Leeds. This new, larger church replaced the older, smaller chapel that was built by Father Arthur O'Leary in the 1790s. The church has a unique long shape because of the limited space available when it was built. It's made of bricks and has a tall bell-tower. The building is considered very important historically and is listed as Grade II*. The main entrance has a grand porch with columns, like those found in ancient Roman buildings. Above the entrance, there's a Latin message that says: "Ut christiani ita et romani sitis." This means "Be ye Christians as those of the Roman Church," and it's a quote from Saint Patrick himself.

The church was closed for a long time, from February 28, 2010, to May 31, 2011, for important repairs and updates. While the church was being renovated, services were held at a nearby chapel called St Barnabas, which is part of The House of St Barnabas.

Inside St Patrick's Church

The inside of St Patrick's Church is just as impressive as the outside. It has been carefully looked after and updated over the years. The main part of the church where people sit is called the nave. After the renovations in 2011, the interior looks bright and welcoming, ready for its community.

Gallery

  • St Patrick Church Soho Square

    Interior of St Patrick's Church before its big renovation

  • St Patrick's Church Nave, Soho Square, London, UK - Diliff

    The beautiful interior after the renovation and updates

  • St Patrick's Church Entrance, Soho Square, London, UK - Diliff

    A closer look at the entrance to the main part of the church

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