Oratory of St Philip Neri
Brompton, Greater London
Immaculate Heart of Mary, this is the second largest Catholic church in London.
Christ Church Kensington and its surrounding gardens are warm and welcoming – a village church and local park in the heart of London.
The church is a beautiful Grade II-listed building from 1851 that reflects the social history of its community as well as the architectural influences of the time. It was designed by Benjamin Ferrey, a pupil of Augustus Pugin, in a restrained Gothic Revival Style. Built amongst fields and market gardens to ease the number of servants attending services at St Mary Abbots, it is still known as ‘the country church in Kensington’.
Located in the De Vere Conservation Area, it comprises a nave, chancel, aisles, and a substantial tower in an unusual position to the north of the chancel. The design is architecturally and historically significant, offering an excellent exemplar of this style of church building. The buttressed tower and spire are particularly striking.
The garden with its lawns, shrubbery and flowerbeds is an oasis in an otherwise built-up area. This distinctive building and beautiful green space is a vital local amenity, providing a focus for religious, civil and social activities as well as opportunities to be involved in serving the people of Kensington.