St Mary, Moorfields

Introduction

The architect was George Sherrin, who also designed the dome of the London Oratory as well as several Underground stations.

History

A chapel was opened in 1686, but had to be suspended in 1689. From 1736 there was a chapel in Ropemaker's Alley, whose fabric and furniture were destroyed in the Gordon Riots. The church was pulled down in 1899 and replaced by the present church in Eldon Street, opened on 25 March 1903.

Architecture and furnishings

The front of the church is set in a plain office building of grey ashlar stonework, with an elaborate quasi-classical round-arched entrance. The entrance is of Portland stone with Quattrocento detailing, surmounted by sculptures by J Daymond representing the Virgin and Child.

The interior has a porch to a 4-bay nave without windows, with lights inserted in the barreled roof. The interior consists of four nave bays, the north aisle with its chapel, and the chancel. Between nave and aisle is an arcade of four Devonshire marble columns with Doric capitals.

The apsidal sanctuary incorporates a semi-circular Corinthian screen from the old church. Within the sanctuary are the original six columns by Comolli re-used by Sherrin, of Como marble, monoliths 18ft high and 2ft in diameter. The altar rails are of pavonazzo, with panels of various other inlaid marbles. At the west end is a small baptistery with a marble font surviving from the old church.

The organ in the west gallery is by Corps and Son of Finsbury Park. The church is oriented north-south, so ritual directions are given here. Scenes of the Life of the Virgin are in relief above ground floor windows. There is a north aisle only, though the south wall has a matching blank Tuscan arcade.

There is a gallery at the west with side organ chambers. The front to Eldon Street is flanked by shops and allowed no display of a conventional church façade. Inside a narrow vestibule leads to the nave, necessarily lowering the floor level some three feet owing to difficulties here with ancient lights. The walls are panelled in oak, and above a cornice in the nave is an elliptical ceiling, with rectangular windows along its length.

At the end of the aisle is the Blessed Sacrament altar, its mensa resting on squared legs with incised panels and foliage capitals. Behind is a window (a memorial to Mary Burton) depicting the Assumption, and on the surrounding walls there are canvas paintings of Regina Apostolorum, St Thomas of Canterbury, St Thomas More, St Edmund and angels.

Parish life

The parish is the only Catholic church in the Square Mile of the City of London. The church has pastoral care of St Joseph's Parish, Bunhill Row.

The parish has a group of young professionals working in the City and Canary Wharf. The parish is affiliated with Providence Row, a charity working with homeless people in The City and the East End. The parish has an ecumenical young professionals outreach group.