St Saviour's, Pimlico facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Saviour's, Pimlico
Location	St George's Square, City of Westminster, London
Country	England, United Kingdom
Denomination	Church of England
Churchmanship	Anglo-Catholic
Website	www.stsp.org.uk
Architecture
Architect(s)	Thomas Cundy (Junior)
Style	Gothic
Years built	1865
Administration
Parish	St Saviour, Pimlico
Deanery	Westminster (St Margaret)
Archdeaconry	Charing Cross
Episcopal area	Two Cities
Diocese	London

St Saviour's is a special kind of church called Anglo-Catholic. It's located in Pimlico, a part of London, England. You can find it at the north end of St George's Square.

The church was built in the 1860s. It was part of a big building project in the area led by Thomas Cubitt for the Marquess of Westminster. The church was designed by an architect named Thomas Cundy. He had also designed another church nearby, St Gabriel's Pimlico.

Like St Gabriel's, St Saviour's was built in the Gothic style. It uses a type of stone called ragstone. This was to make it look different from the smooth, classical buildings around it. St Saviour's is considered an important historical building and is listed as Grade II.

History of St Saviour's Church

Building the Church

The first stone of St Saviour's was placed on June 16, 1863. The church was officially opened on July 16, 1864. Its spire, which is like a tall, pointed roof, reached 170 feet (about 51.8 meters) high. At that time, it was one of the tallest spires in London.

When it was first built, the inside of the church looked quite plain. It had two long balconies, called galleries, and no special screen or pulpit. There was only a small brass stand for reading.

In 1871, a new organ was installed. It was made by a company called Hill & Son. In 1882, the church had a big makeover. This was called "the beautifying of the church." The old balconies were removed. New decorative arches were added to the sanctuary area. The large window at the east end was filled with beautiful stained glass.

This work was possible because people in the church gave a lot of money, about £1,500. The work was overseen by Romaine Walker. More stained glass windows were added after 1882, along with pictures.

Sanctuary Details

The reredos, which is a decorated screen behind the altar, shows a picture of the Last Supper. It was designed by Romaine Walker in 1882 and carved by Thomas Earp. The East window, also designed by Romaine Walker, shows Christ as a powerful king. It was made by Clayton Bell around 1880. A wooden screen, called a rood screen, was added in 1911.

Lady Chapel Details

The baldacchino, which is a canopy over the altar, was added in 1913. It was designed by Nicholson and Corlette.

Side Chapel Details

The side chapel has an altar called the Mission Altar. It was originally in an old Mission Hall nearby. Above this altar is a screen. It is thought to be by Nicholson and Corlette and was once in the Lady Chapel.

Font Details

The font, which is a basin used for baptisms, was also designed by Romaine Walker. A wooden spire was added to it in 1885.

Early 1900s Changes

Between 1887 and 1912, many new things were added to the church. The side chapel was blessed in 1889. The sanctuary was decorated in 1891. A clock was placed in the tower in 1895.

In 1911, the year King George V was crowned, the church was cleaned. The steeple was also repaired. This cost £250. The vicar at this busy time was Henry Washington. His life and work are remembered by two stained glass windows, the chancel screen, and the wooden pulpit.

In 1914, a church leader named C. O. Merritt Fox wrote a book about St Saviour's. He wrote about how much people today owe to those who came before them. He said they worked hard and gave money to build churches and help their communities. He asked people to show thanks by supporting the church's work today.

In the 1930s, statues of the Madonna and Child, the Sacred Heart, and the Stations of the Cross were brought from Oberammergau and added to the church.

Recent Renovations (1990s to Present)

In 1999, the south wall of the church was cleaned and fixed. Damaged plaster was repaired, and the church was repainted. During this work, beautiful designs on the chancel ceiling were found and restored.

The lady chapel was moved back to its original place. Some unwanted pews (church benches) were removed from the nave transepts. This made the building feel more open and spacious.

In 2007, the Pimlico Room, parish office, and sacristy were updated. The Pimlico Room had been sinking, so it was fixed, and new toilets were added. A new level was built in the sacristy to create more space for the office and church items.

In 2016, major restoration work began. This included a new roof for the nave, with colorful tiles. The entire building was rewired and new lights were installed. The 1870s organ was also restored. St Saviour's is now open most days of the week. It is a welcoming and inspiring place for everyone.

Famous People Connected to St Saviour's

Many notable people have been connected to St Saviour's church over the years. The first Duke of Westminster paid for the church to be built. George Cubitt, whose family built much of Pimlico, was also involved. More recently, the 6th Duke of Westminster supported the church's restoration efforts.

Laurence Olivier, a very famous actor, had a father who was a curate (a type of priest) at St Saviour's. Laurence Olivier himself was a choirboy and helped during services there. Walter Clopton Wingfield, who helped create modern lawn tennis, regularly worshipped at the church. The writer Sir Compton Mackenzie was married in St Saviour's.

Church Hall

St Saviour's church hall is located next to the church's south wall. The hall is used almost every day. It is home to the Young England Kindergarten. This is where Lady Diana Spencer worked before she married the Prince of Wales. After her death, a tree was planted and a bench was added in her memory near the hall.

Images for kids

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  Nave

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  Sanctuary

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  The painted ceiling