St Michael's Church, Camden Town
Encyclopedia
St Michael's Church is the main Anglican church for Camden Town
.
The congregation was begun in 1881 at a building nearby where a betting shop now stands; a service was held in the shop to begin the celebrations for the church's 125th anniversary in 2002.
The present building was the first London church designed by Bodley
and Garner
and is built of brick with stone dressings in the decorated Gothic style. The nave was completed in 1881 and the chancel added and consecrated in 1894 under its first vicar, Father Edward Penfold. A north west tower was planned but never built. The interior has a continuous, stenciled waggon roof covering both nave and chancel, and a vaulted north chapel. The west front was restored in 2005 and a new roof was completed in August 2007. The church is Grade II* listed, for its interior .
It is linked to St Michael's Church of England Primary School. In 1954 it subsumed the parishes of All Saints, Camden Town
(which had become a Greek Orthodox church in 1948) and St.Thomas, Agar Town
, Wrotham Road (1864 building demolished due to war damage). In 2003 it became part of the St Pancras Team Ministry, with St Pancras Old Church
, St Mary's Church, Somers Town
and St Paul's Church, Camden Square
.
It has an active ministry to the homeless and refugees in the area, and regularly speaks out on local social issues. It featured in the BBC series The Power and the Glory and hosted the launch of the new 'Faithful Cities
' report (on which occasion the Archbishops of York
and Canterbury
also dedicated the new parish rooms at the side of the church). In March 2008 its priest, Father Nicholas Wheeler (licensed to the parish on 21 September 1996, and also Team Rector of the St Pancras Team Ministry) left to become Anglican Priest Missioner in Rio de Janeiro
. He was replaced as Team Rector and priest of St Michael's by Philip North, previously Shrine Administrator at Walsingham.
Camden Town
-Economy:In recent years, entertainment-related businesses and a Holiday Inn have moved into the area. A number of retail and food chain outlets have replaced independent shops driven out by high rents and redevelopment. Restaurants have thrived, with the variety of culinary traditions found in...
.
The congregation was begun in 1881 at a building nearby where a betting shop now stands; a service was held in the shop to begin the celebrations for the church's 125th anniversary in 2002.
The present building was the first London church designed by Bodley
George Frederick Bodley
George Frederick Bodley was an English architect working in the Gothic revival style.-Personal life:Bodley was the youngest son of William Hulme Bodley, M.D. of Edinburgh, physician at Hull Royal Infirmary, Kingston upon Hull, who in 1838 retired to his wife's home town, Brighton, Sussex, England....
and Garner
Thomas Garner
Thomas Garner was one of the leading English Gothic revival architects of the Victorian era. His name is usually mentioned in relation to his almost 30-year partnership with George Frederick Bodley...
and is built of brick with stone dressings in the decorated Gothic style. The nave was completed in 1881 and the chancel added and consecrated in 1894 under its first vicar, Father Edward Penfold. A north west tower was planned but never built. The interior has a continuous, stenciled waggon roof covering both nave and chancel, and a vaulted north chapel. The west front was restored in 2005 and a new roof was completed in August 2007. The church is Grade II* listed, for its interior .
It is linked to St Michael's Church of England Primary School. In 1954 it subsumed the parishes of All Saints, Camden Town
All Saints, Camden Town
All Saints, Camden Town is a church in the Camden Town area of London, England. It was built for the Church of England, but it is now a Greek Orthodox church known as the Greek Orthodox Church of All Saints...
(which had become a Greek Orthodox church in 1948) and St.Thomas, Agar Town
Agar Town
Agar Town was a short-lived area of St Pancras in central London. It was named after William Agar, a wealthy lawyer who lived at Elm Lodge, a villa in large grounds near to the Regent's Canal roughly where Barker Drive is now...
, Wrotham Road (1864 building demolished due to war damage). In 2003 it became part of the St Pancras Team Ministry, with St Pancras Old Church
St Pancras Old Church
St Pancras Old Church is a Church of England parish church in central London. It is believed to be one of the oldest sites of Christian worship in England, and is dedicated to the Roman martyr Saint Pancras, although the building itself is largely Victorian...
, St Mary's Church, Somers Town
St Mary's Church, Somers Town
St Mary's Church is a Church of England church behind Euston station in Somers Town, London Borough of Camden. It was designed by Henry William Inwood, and built in 1852 by I. T. Seabrook...
and St Paul's Church, Camden Square
St Paul's Church, Camden Square
St Paul's Church is a church dedicated to Paul the Apostle on Camden Square in Camden, north London. It is called St Paul's because the estate was owned originally by the canons of St Paul’s Cathedral....
.
It has an active ministry to the homeless and refugees in the area, and regularly speaks out on local social issues. It featured in the BBC series The Power and the Glory and hosted the launch of the new 'Faithful Cities
Faithful Cities
Faithful Cities was a report on urban life by the Church of England, produced by the Commission on Urban Life and Faith. Its findings were launched by John Sentamu, Archbishop of York, and Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, at St Michael's Church, Camden Town, London, in May 2006. It was...
' report (on which occasion the Archbishops of York
John Sentamu
John Tucker Mugabi Sentamu is the 97th Archbishop of York, Metropolitan of the province of York, and Primate of England. He is the second most senior cleric in the Church of England, after the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams.-Life and career:...
and Canterbury
Rowan Williams
Rowan Douglas Williams FRSL, FBA, FLSW is an Anglican bishop, poet and theologian. He is the 104th and current Archbishop of Canterbury, Metropolitan of the Province of Canterbury and Primate of All England, offices he has held since early 2003.Williams was previously Bishop of Monmouth and...
also dedicated the new parish rooms at the side of the church). In March 2008 its priest, Father Nicholas Wheeler (licensed to the parish on 21 September 1996, and also Team Rector of the St Pancras Team Ministry) left to become Anglican Priest Missioner in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
. He was replaced as Team Rector and priest of St Michael's by Philip North, previously Shrine Administrator at Walsingham.
Clergy
The Team Ministry currently employs:- Father Philip North, St Michael's and Team Rector
- Father Bruce Batstone, St Mary's Somers Town and chaplain of the Huntley Centre
- Father James Elston, NSM, priest at St Mary's