St Mary Moorfields
Encyclopedia
St Mary Moorfields is a Roman Catholic church in the City of London
. The present building, located at 4-5 Eldon Street, was opened in 1903. However, the foundation had a long history prior to this. A chapel was opened in 1686, but was suspended in 1689, in the aftermath of the Revolution of 1688
.
From 1736 there was a chapel in Ropemaker's Alley, but in 1780 it too fell prey to anti-Catholic sentiment when its fabric and furniture were destroyed in the Gordon Riots
. It was succeeded first by a chapel in White Street, then in 1820 by a large Classical church in Finsbury Circus
, which became Cardinal Wiseman's pro-cathedral from 1850 to 1869. This building was sold and demolished in 1900.
The church serves as a hub for evangelism
, especially directed at young people who work in the Financial District environs (City of London
). The church is affiliated with the St Francis of Assisi Ramblers and also hosts monthly Opus Dei
meetings.
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
. The present building, located at 4-5 Eldon Street, was opened in 1903. However, the foundation had a long history prior to this. A chapel was opened in 1686, but was suspended in 1689, in the aftermath of the Revolution of 1688
Glorious Revolution
The Glorious Revolution, also called the Revolution of 1688, is the overthrow of King James II of England by a union of English Parliamentarians with the Dutch stadtholder William III of Orange-Nassau...
.
From 1736 there was a chapel in Ropemaker's Alley, but in 1780 it too fell prey to anti-Catholic sentiment when its fabric and furniture were destroyed in the Gordon Riots
Gordon Riots
The Gordon Riots of 1780 were an anti-Catholic protest against the Papists Act 1778.The Popery Act 1698 had imposed a number of penalties and disabilities on Roman Catholics in England; the 1778 act eliminated some of these. An initial peaceful protest led on to widespread rioting and looting and...
. It was succeeded first by a chapel in White Street, then in 1820 by a large Classical church in Finsbury Circus
Finsbury Circus
Finsbury Circus is an elliptical square with its long axis lying east-west in the City of London, England; with an area of 2.2 hectares it is the largest public open space within the City's boundaries. It has an immaculately maintained Lawn Bowls club in the centre, which has existed in the gardens...
, which became Cardinal Wiseman's pro-cathedral from 1850 to 1869. This building was sold and demolished in 1900.
The church serves as a hub for evangelism
Evangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
, especially directed at young people who work in the Financial District environs (City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
). The church is affiliated with the St Francis of Assisi Ramblers and also hosts monthly Opus Dei
Opus Dei
Opus Dei, formally known as The Prelature of the Holy Cross and Opus Dei , is an organization of the Catholic Church that teaches that everyone is called to holiness and that ordinary life is a path to sanctity. The majority of its membership are lay people, with secular priests under the...
meetings.
External links
- Parish website – Roman Catholic Archdiocese of WestminsterRoman Catholic Archdiocese of WestminsterThe Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Westminster is an archdiocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in England. The archdiocese consists of all the London boroughs north of the River Thames and west of the River Lea, together with the towns southwest of Staines and Sunbury-on-Thames and...
website describing St Mary Moorfields - Lecture on the History of St Mary Moorfields
- Contact details