St Peter's Italian Church
Encyclopedia
St. Peter's Italian Church is a Basilica
-style church located in Clerkenwell
, London
.
It was built by request of (St.) Vincent Pallotti
, with the assistance of Giuseppe Mazzini
, who was in London at the time, for the growing number of Italian immigrants in the mid 19th Century and modelled by Irish architect Sir John Miller-Bryson on the Basilica San Crisogono
in Rome.
It was consecrated on 16 April 1863 as The Church of St. Peter of all Nations. At the time of consecration, it was the only Basilica-style church in the UK. Its organ was built in 1886 by Belgian
Anneesen.
During World War II
, whilst Italian Immigrants were interned, Irish Pallottines
made use of the church until 1953 when it returned to Italian control.
Basilica
The Latin word basilica , was originally used to describe a Roman public building, usually located in the forum of a Roman town. Public basilicas began to appear in Hellenistic cities in the 2nd century BC.The term was also applied to buildings used for religious purposes...
-style church located in Clerkenwell
Clerkenwell
Clerkenwell is an area of central London in the London Borough of Islington. From 1900 to 1965 it was part of the Metropolitan Borough of Finsbury. The well after which it was named was rediscovered in 1924. The watchmaking and watch repairing trades were once of great importance...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
It was built by request of (St.) Vincent Pallotti
Vincent Pallotti
Saint Vincent Pallotti was an Italian ecclesiastic, born in Rome, and a saint. He was the founder of the Pious Society of Missions , He is buried in the church of San Salvatore in Onda. He was descended from the noble families of the Pallotti of Norcia and the De Rossi of Rome...
, with the assistance of Giuseppe Mazzini
Giuseppe Mazzini
Giuseppe Mazzini , nicknamed Soul of Italy, was an Italian politician, journalist and activist for the unification of Italy. His efforts helped bring about the independent and unified Italy in place of the several separate states, many dominated by foreign powers, that existed until the 19th century...
, who was in London at the time, for the growing number of Italian immigrants in the mid 19th Century and modelled by Irish architect Sir John Miller-Bryson on the Basilica San Crisogono
San Crisogono
San Crisogono is a church in Rome dedicated to the martyr Saint Chrysogonus.-History:The church was one of the tituli, the first parish churches of Rome...
in Rome.
It was consecrated on 16 April 1863 as The Church of St. Peter of all Nations. At the time of consecration, it was the only Basilica-style church in the UK. Its organ was built in 1886 by Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
Anneesen.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, whilst Italian Immigrants were interned, Irish Pallottines
Pallottines
The Society of the Catholic Apostolate , better known as the Pallottines, are a Society of Apostolic Life within the Roman Catholic Church, founded in 1835 by the Roman priest Saint Vincent Pallotti. Pallottines are part of the Union of Catholic Apostolate and are present in 45 countries on six...
made use of the church until 1953 when it returned to Italian control.