Church of St Thomas of Canterbury, Fulham

Introduction

The Church of St Thomas of Canterbury in Fulham was built in 1847-9 by Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin. It is the only complete Pugin Church in London.

History

The church was built in memory of the late husband of benefactress Mrs. Elisabeth Bowden. Blessed John Henry Newman used the pulpit at the opening in 1848. Most of the east window was destroyed in World War II and Harman redesigned it in 1947. In 1969 the chancel was re-ordered and a new altar of Caen Stone was placed facing the people. In 2005 the chancel was extended and a cloister built on to the north aisle.

Architecture and furnishings

The church is in Decorated Gothic style with an aisled nave without clerestory, lower chancel and south porch under separate roofs. The church has a tower to the north-west of three stages with spire recessed behind parapet with pinnacles. The interior has arcades, reredos and font and some contemporary and later nineteenth century stained glass.

The east has three gables facing Rylston Road. The north west tower and pinnacled steeple faces the small, attractive cemetery opened in 1849. The simple interior originally had nave, aisles, chancel, north and south chapels, north transept and north-west baptistery. The nave has four bays of plain, circular columns, the chancel has two bays; there is no chancel arch.

The high pitched roof is in the “scissor beam” manner. The South Chapel dedicated to Our Lady has windows and iconography relating to Mary’s death, coronation and flight into Egypt. The North Chapel is dedicated to Saint John the Evangelist and has well detailed iconography of the saint. The baptismal font, relocated in the south aisle in 2005, has sculpted figures of the evangelists.

Originally the stained-glass windows were designed by Westlake. The glass in the tracery by Harman remains from 1860. The church is built of coursed rubblestone with ashlar dressings and a slate roof.

Sacraments and pastoral care

The bishops ask couples planning to marry to contact their Parish Priest at least six months before the proposed wedding date. Information about preparing children for the sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Communion is given in Church during the Easter season. Young people in Year 9 or above at school are invited at Sunday Mass to express their interest in coming to Confirmation. The parish clergy are always ready to answer questions and give advice about vocation.