St Peter's Italian Catholic Church - Clerkenwell Road, London, UK
N 51° 31.327 W 000° 06.544
30U E 700551 N 5711851
You would almost be forgiven for walking past this church, in Clerkenwell Road, as its frontage is amongst shops and offices.
Waymark Code: WMDNJ8
Location: London, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 02/05/2012
Views: 3
To get the best view of this church you need to cross to
the other side of Clerkenwell Road. From there you can see how the church stands
out from the neighbouring buildings and get a glimpse of the statues and mosaics
above the entrance. Take time to look at the World War I war memorial that lists
the 170 Italians who returned to Italy to fight against Germany. Above the war
memorial, in black, is a striking plaque showing three people in the water with
their arms raised appealing for help. This memorial is to remember those
Italians that were interned in the United Kingdom at the start of hostilities in
World War II. These non-combatants were to be shipped to Canada in 1940 but the
ship that was transporting them, the Arandora Star, was torpedoed with
hundreds of the interned being killed.
"In the early 19th century the Saffron Hill area of
London was a poor neighbourhood of densely populated slum-ridden alleys. By
1850, nearly 2000 Italian immigrants had settled there, chiefly employed as
itinerant workers - street musicians, organ-grinders, street vendors or as
artisans producing plaster figures, picture-frames, looking-glasses, barometers
and other scientific instruments. They worshipped at the Royal Sardinian Chapel,
Lincoln's Inn Fields, because they had no church of their own.
In 1845 St. Vincent Pallotti, a RC priest and founder of the S.A.C. (Pallottine
Fathers), thought of constructing a church in London for Italian immigrants.
The Irish architect, Sir John Miller-Bryson, modelled the church on the Basilica
of San Crisogono in Rome.
Originally it was meant to hold 3,400 people, but the plans were scaled down. It
was consecrated as "The Church of St. Peter of all Nations" on 16 April 1863
and, at that time, it was the only church in Britain in the Roman Basilica
style."
St Peter's opened amid great celebration on 16th April 1863, at that time the
only church in Britain in the Roman Basilican style. The Irish architect John
Miller Bryson worked from plans drawn by Francesco Gualandi of Bologna, which in
turn were modelled on the Basilica of San Crisogono in Trastevere, Rome. St
Peter's was originally the 'Church Of All Nations' and throughout the 1860s
attracted congregations of many nationalities. A Polish chapel was established
in the crypt. The excellence of the music attracted people of many faiths.
The choir was outstanding and regular concerts were held, featuring
distinguished soloists and orchestras. The Italian Church, as it soon became
known, established itself with great success. The choir loggia and organ were
built in 1886. The magnificent organ which can be seen today is part of the
original by the Belgian craftsman Anneesen and it was regarded as the finest in
the country at the time of its installation. It was restored in 1959 using many
of the original features, and again in 1995. Maintaining the tradition of fine
singing at St. Peter's, it has accompanied may exceptional singers, including
the great tenor, Beniamino Gigli. Looking up from the central nave, the ceiling
is dominated by a fresco depicting St. Peter in triumph, carrying symbols of his
authority and martyrdom (Gauthier of Saluzzo 1896) Enough money was found to
complete the presbytery in 1865-66. The campanile and new loggia on Clerkenwell
Road were designed by Francis Tasker and completed in 1891
The façade of the church consists of a loggia and a portico with two arches,
above which are three alcoves. The central alcove contains a statue of Christ,
whilst the side alcoves contain statues of St. Bede and St. George. Between the
alcoves are two large mosaics depicting the miracle of the fishes and Jesus
giving the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven to St. Peter. Above the façade is a
33-metre-high bell tower, built in 1891 which houses a huge bell known as "The
Steel Monster". In the loggia are two important plaques, one to veterans of the
First World War and the other to 446 Italians who lost their lives on the
Arandora Star.
During the Second World War many Italians resident in Britain were interned.
During the period of internment, from 1939, the church was under the control of
the Irish Pallottines, only reverting to the Italians Province in 1953."
Source Italian Church
website.