St. Augustine's, Kilburn

Infobox church
name = St. Augustine's, Kilburn
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caption = Photo of St. Augustine's
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denomination = Church of England
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founder = Richard Carr Kilpatrick
architect = John Loughborough Pearson
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constructed_date = 1871-1897
dedicated_date = 1880
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vicar = Anthony H. Yates
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address = City of Westminster, London
country = United Kingdom
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Saint Augustine's, Kilburn is an Anglican Church in the area of Kilburn [Although in the Kilburn area, the church is located just within the boundaries of the City of Westminster - [http://www.westminster.gov.uk/fmn/index3.cfm?LayerID=55&querylayer=Streets&querystring=Kilburn%20Park%20Road&queryfield=STREET_NAME&LGSL=361,362 see map] for exact location] , in North London, United Kingdom. Because of its large scale and ornate architecture, it is sometimes affectionately referred to as "the Cathedral of North London", although the church is not a cathedral in any official sense.

St Augustine's was founded by Richard Carr Kirkpatrick in the Anglo-Catholic tradition in 1870. By 1871, the foundation stone was laid to replace the original 'iron church' with a Victorian Gothic church design by John Loughborough Pearson that is now a Grade I listed building by English Heritage. [ "A Church Near You" website, Church of England, accessed March 2, 2008, http://www.acny.org.uk/venue.php?V=15756.]

Architecture

By 1871, the foundation stone was laid to replace the original 'iron church' with a much more ambitious form of religious architecture. Pearson's plans called for a red brick structure, vaulted ceilings, and extensive interior stone sculpture in a style reminiscent of 13th Century Gothic architecture. The church was consecrated in 1880, however, the tower and spire, remarkable for such Victorian era structures, were not constructed until 1897-1898. [Humphrey, Stephen and James Morris, Churches and Cathedrals of London, New Holland Publishers (London), 2006. ] Sir Giles Gilbert Scott designed the reredos (altar screens) for the high altar in 1930. He also designed the reredos of the Lady's Chapel and the Stations of the Cross. In 1878, two-years prior to the dedication of the church, contemporary historian Edward Walford had already referred to St. Augustine's, Kilburn as "one of the finest examples of ecclesiastical structures in London." [Edward Walford, Old and New London: Volume 5, British History website, accessed March 2, 2008, http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=45234 ] .The spire measures more than 77 meters high (254 feet). Completed in 1878, the nave measures nine meters (28 feet) wide with nine bays and a crossing that is bounded by transepts on the north and south sides. The religious art in various forms depicts most of the major biblical stories. Clayton and Bell created the stained glass windows which includes a large rose window depicting the Creation, nine clerestory windows (five depicting types of angels), nave windows depicting Saints connected with England, a window depicting Saint Augustine and several other tall lancet windows. Paintings around the nave depict the healing ministry of Jesus of Nazareth. The chancel and sanctuary are surrounded by densely carved sculptural forms depicting the passion, crucifixion, burial, and resurrection of Christ, as well as the apostles, saints and other religious iconography. The south transept leads to St. Michael's Chapel with depictions of the Eucharist, sacrifice, angels and the worship of Heaven. The Lady Chapel presents frescoes of the Christ child and a later carving of Jesus' presentation in the Temple. [Saint Augustine, Kilburn website, accessed March 2. 2008, http://www.saint-augustine.org.uk/section/14.]

Congregational History

Richard Carr Kirkpatrick served as parish priest at Saint Augustine, Kilburn from 1870-1907. He formed the church after his parish at St. Mary's, Kilburn, where he served as curate, received an evangelical vicar unsympathetic to the Anglo-Catholic movement (also referred to as the Oxford movement, "tractarians" or disparagingly as "Puseyites" after one of the founders of the movement, Edward Bouverie Pusey. Kirkpatrick was followed in the vicarage by:
*Philip Leary, 1907 – 1930
*William Percy Theodore Atkinson, 1930 – 1954
*Harold Riley, 1955 – 1975
*Claude Eric Hampson, 1975 – 1977
*Raymond John Avent, 1977 – 1987
*Paul Tudor Rivers, 1987 – 1994
*Anthony H. Yates, 1995 – present.

External links

* [http://www.saint-augustine.org.uk/ Official Parish Site]

References