St Stephen's Church, Rosslyn Hill facts for kids
St. Stephen's is an old church building in Hampstead, London. It is no longer used as a church. You can find it on Rosslyn Hill, right where it meets Pond Street. This area is a steep hill next to the Royal Free Hospital. When it was a church, it could hold up to 1,200 people.
Contents
The Story of St. Stephen's Church
How the Church Was Designed
The church was designed in a style called Neo Gothic. This means it looked like old Gothic churches from the Middle Ages. The architect was Samuel Sanders Teulon. He designed 114 churches, but he thought St. Stephen's was his best work. He even called it his "mighty church." It was also the most expensive church he ever built!
In 1864, Sir Thomas Maryon Wilson, who owned the land in Hampstead, offered a spot for a new church. Samuel Teulon accepted the job.
Building the Church
People started raising money for the church in 1864. They thought it would cost about £7,500. But it ended up costing much more, around £27,000! The outside of the church has cool sculptures made by Thomas Earp. Some beautiful mosaics by Salviati can still be seen inside the main part of the church.
Work on the church began in January 1869. The first stone was laid in May of that year. On December 31st, the Bishop of London, John Jackson, officially opened the church. It was fully finished by 1870. However, because it was built on a hill, the ground often shifted. This caused problems for the building over time.
Famous Events at St. Stephen's
Some interesting things happened at St. Stephen's. In 1907, a famous performer and composer named Marie Lloyd Jr. got married there. Also, Margaret Nevinson, a writer and important woman who fought for women's rights, was buried there in 1932.
Why the Church Closed Down
By the late 1960s, people started worrying about the church's structure. It was getting expensive to fix, and fewer people were coming to worship. So, in 1977, the church closed its doors for good.
Saving the Building
In 1974, St. Stephen's was given a special status as a Grade I listed building. This was important because it saved the church from being torn down. Some people wanted to build a car park for the hospital there, or even turn the church into apartments. But its special status protected it.
Even though it was saved, the building slowly started to fall apart. People who didn't have homes sometimes stayed there. For a long time, no one could decide what to do with the building.
Finally, in 1999, a group called the St Stephen's Restoration and Preservation Trust took over the church. They worked hard to raise money. They got over £4 million from groups like English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund, as well as from local businesses and people. With this money, the church was fixed up in three stages. Now, it can be used again for different events and activities!
