St Boniface German Roman Catholic Church

Introduction

The German Roman Catholic Church of St Boniface on Adler Street in London, built 1959-1960, is listed at Grade II. The church was funded and commissioned by the German authorities and serves the German community present in this part of London from the nineteenth century and earlier.

History

The German Catholic Mission was established in 1809 to cater for the pastoral needs of German and German-speaking immigrants. Since 1862, the German Catholic Mission has been on the very site the German Chaplaincy still occupies today. St Boniface's Church was completed in 1875, consecrated in 1925, and destroyed in the Blitz.

The church of 1875 survived a Zeppelin attack in the First World War and, following repairs, it was consecrated by Cardinal Schulte, Archbishop of Cologne. The new church of St Boniface was consecrated in 1960. The consultant architect in London was Donald Plaskett Marshall, who built extensively for the Roman Catholic church in the London diocese.

Architecture and furnishings

The church was built 1959-1960 to the designs of Donald Plaskett Marshall with Dr Toni Hermanns of Kleve. The church is constructed using concrete encased steel portal frames on deep concrete piles, with external walls to the east and west faced in dark brown brick, and mosaic cladding to the north and bell-tower. The roof is clad in copper. The sgraffito mural and font are by Heribert Reul of Kevelaer.

The Stations of the Cross of 1912, brought from the old church, are by Georg Lang of Oberammergau in Bavaria. Decorative iron work is by Reginald Lloyd of Bideford, England. The interior has an organ of 1965 by Romanus Seifert and Sohn of Kevelaer and Cologne. The font by Heribert Reul is of dark green marble and symbolically shaped like a triangle with curved corners.

Reul designed and executed the dramatic sgraffito mural of coloured and textured plaster that dominates the rear wall of the sanctuary over the High Altar. The mural represents Christ in Glory with St Boniface, the English missionary of the Germans and the country’s patron saint. Below the mural is a tabernacle with a blessing hand, two fish and five loaves in beaten copper and silver with rock crystals, also designed by Reul, on a green marble stand. Reginald Lloyd designed a wrought-iron communion rail, removed during reordering, which hangs in sections on the south wall.

Lloyd also designed the north window above the gallery, a semi-abstract depiction of the Pentecost in vivid red, yellow and blue. The fourteen Stations of the Cross are grouped together in a frieze below the gallery, set in the timber screen that separates the narthex and church. The foundation stone of this church is set into the east wall of the nave near the door into the sacristy. The 1977 font cover by Reul commemorates Father Joseph Simml, the priest in 1940.

Music and liturgy

The gallery's wrought-iron balustrade on the west side of the sanctuary depicts the Crucifixion with the Nativity and Resurrection, enriching the visual context for worship.

Visiting

The parish runs groups for prayer, social action, Sacramental preparation, youth work and support of others. A brass panel in the narthex records the history of the church. A brass plaque in the church lists the names of the parish priests. A bronze plaque by Joseph Welhing of Koblenz commemorates the link with the Pallotine fathers from 1903 until 1996.

A plaque in the church commemorates Father Leushacke (1913-97). The north façade is approached by four steps. The ground floor has timber and glass panelling with a central, louvred double processional door flanked by two pedestrian entrances, all with their brass fittings. The narthex and nave have wooden block flooring, with Sicilian white marble flooring to the sanctuary.

The nave is lit by the original pendant lights. To the west of the sanctuary opening is a statue of Our Lady with marble altar beneath. The sacristy retains contemporary timber cupboard doors and other joinery.