St Mary of the Angels

Introduction

St Mary of the Angels in Bayswater, London, is a Grade II* listed church. The church was begun in 1851 to designs by Thomas Meyer and completed in 1857 by Henry Clutton. The church was opened for worship on 2 July 1857. The church was reconsecrated on 4 November 2007.

History

The mission was started in 1849, with Mass initially said at No 4 Sutherland Place. The foundation stone was laid on 2 December 1851. The church was initially dedicated to St Helen, in honour of benefactress Mrs Helen Hargrave.

The church was opened in 1857 with a community known as the Oblates of Saint Charles. The house for the Oblate community was built in c1870. In 1869 a N aisle with an eastern chapel was added from designs by J F Bentley. A S aisle with Lady Chapel was added in 1872-74.

In 1887 the N aisle was extended in late Decorated style. In the 1920s the current top stage of the tower was likely added. The spire envisaged by Meyer was never built. The Oblates continued their ministry here until the 1970s, when they were dissolved.

Architecture and furnishings

The church is of coursed ragstone with ashlar dressings under a slate roof. The church is in the Geometric Gothic-Revival style. The church has a robust heavily buttressed four-stage tower. The nave is covered by a waggon roof of stained timber.

The former baptistery has iron railings and gates of 1868 by Bentley. The split organ on the W gallery is the original organ of 1857 by William Hill & Son. The N aisle has a marble and alabaster altar dedicated to St Joseph, designed by Bentley in 1874. The St Charles Borromeo Chapel was added by Bentley in 1887.

The high altar of 1914 has an alabaster reredos. The inner SE chapel is dedicated to Saints Helen and Mary Magdalen, by Bentley, 1876. The six-light E window is by Jones & Willis. Seven S aisle windows have been attributed to Lavers, Barraud & Westlake, dated between 1877 and 1880.

Three windows in the N aisle are signed by the firm, 1868–70. Confirmed designs by Bentley include two two-light windows with female saints in the Lady Chapel, 1871. The easternmost window in the outer N aisle is based on cartoons by John Hungerford Pollen. The chapel at the east end of the inner north aisle, originally the Chapel of Saint Charles, became the Chapel of the Holy Ghost in 1887, and its mosaic floor, metal side screens and alabaster altar with marble panels date from 1912 (George Powell).

The Lady Chapel in the outer south aisle was furnished by Bentley in 1872–74, including a wrought-iron grille (1876) and an altar and reredos of Carrara marble with gilded Marian monograms and fleur-de-lys. The dedication to Saint Mary of the Angels reflects the devotion of Manning and Saint Charles to Saint Francis of Assisi.

Parish life

The parish participates in the Notting Hill Carnival. The parish has a group called Courage for those experiencing same-sex attraction who wish to live a chaste life. The parish has a Justice and Peace contact.

The parish has a parish school situated a short distance away on Shrewsbury Road. The parish has a group for those who missed out on Confirmation as teenagers. A virtual tour of the church is available using the Guide app, searching for Smota.