Our Lady of the Holy Souls

Introduction

Our Lady of the Holy Souls in Kensal New Town, London, was solemnly opened and blessed by Cardinal Manning on 13th April 1882.

History

The Oblates of St Charles began missionary work in Kensal New Town in 1858. In 1862 a two-roomed cottage in Kensal Road served as a meeting place for the Catholic population. An iron church was built in Absalom Road in 1873, partly from Father Karslake's private funds. The church was re-roofed in 1980.

Architecture and furnishings

J.F. Bentley's design for the church is early English Gothic with a six bay nave, narrow aisles and a three bay chancel. The exterior is plain red brick with Bath stone dressings. The porch was designed by the Marquis de Saint Andre de Tournay d’Oisy and was blessed on 11th November 1921. The carved and painted reredos, reaching from floor to ceiling, was erected in 1889 in the Tudor style, designed by Father A.B. Baker.

The Sanctuary screen in the fifteenth century style was removed in 1959. The organ loft with linen fold panelling is on the south side of the Sanctuary, carved by Mr Houchin.

The church has a nave with tall clerestory, aisles, transept, and lower choir, with an entrance at the west end with three lancets over. The church has a small octagonal tower with spire to the south-west.

Piers of Bath Stone separate the nave from the narrow processional aisles, with shafts rising to the clerestory height supporting the timber roof. The clerestory consists of a two light window in each bay. The southern elevation to Hazlewood Crescent has a plain brick aisle wall pierced by several pairs of cusped lancets, with a transeptal block containing the organ loft. The transeptal projection at street level contains an entrance to the Church and sacristy, with a gable decorated with stone bands alternating with brick courses.

The wooden Altar designed by Bentley and painted by Stacey, together with the Bentley designed triptych – Annunciation, St Paul and St Thomas Aquinas – and the Pulpit have been replaced. In the north and south side of the Sanctuary are richly glazed screens designed by Bentley. The words of the De Profundis, Psalm 129, were inscribed after 1907 in Gothic lettering beneath the clerestory windows, now obliterated.

Parish life

The parish youth group meets in the parish hall. The parish has teams of altar servers who serve at each of the Sunday Masses, open to children in Year 4 who have made their First Holy Communion.

The parish offers Alpha Youth for people aged 11 to 18 interested in exploring a relationship with Jesus. The parish requires at least six months notice for marriage preparation.

Sacraments and pastoral care

The parish youth group includes food and drink, social time, music, games, input about a life of faith, open discussions, relevant activities, and opportunities to pray. The parish youth group is free of charge to attend.