St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Shepherd's Bush

St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral
Exterior view of St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral
St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Shepherd's Bush
Godolphin Road, Shepherd's Bush Map
51°30′15″N 0°13′59″W / 51.50417°N 0.23307°W / 51.50417; -0.23307
LocationShepherd's Bush, London
Address60 Godolphin Road, W12
CountryUnited Kingdom
Language(s)Greek & English
DenominationEastern Orthodox Cathedral
TraditionGreek Orthodox
History
Former name(s)
St Nicholas' Church, Shepherd's Bush
StatusCathedral and parish church
Founded1965
DedicationSaint Nicholas of Myra
Consecrated1985
Architecture
Functional status
Active
Heritage designation
Grade II Listed building
ArchitectSir Arthur Blomfield
Years built
1882
Administration
ArchdioceseArchdiiocese of Thyateira
Clergy
ArchbishopNikitas of Thyateira
RectorFr Andreas Minic

St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral is a parish church and Cathedral that serves as a centre for the Greek Orthodox community in West London. Located on Godolphin Road in Shepherd's Bush. The cathedral is dedicated to Saint Nicholas, Bishop of Myra.[1][2] The cathedral serves under the jurisdiction of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain[3] Continuing its patron saint's legacy of charity, the cathedral runs local philanthropic outreach led by its parish ladies' to help the poor in need.[4]

History

Roots of the Church

In 1877, vicar William Cooke requested to the Bishop of London's Fund for a grant to build the Church as the growing population was in Shepherd's Bush, and to the London Diocesan Home Missions for an assistant fund. A year later, in December 1878, St Stephen Infant School room (known as a mission room) was used for services until a temporary church could be build in Godolphine Road W12. A large number of attendance was growing. Two years later, In February 1880, architect Arthur Blomfield drawn up a plan and a building committee was set up to raise funds for a permanent church, applying grants from; the Bishop of London's Fund, the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, the Incorporated Church Building Society, and the Trustees of Marshall's Charity.[5]

In June 1882, the foundation stone was laid by Baroness Burdett-Coutts.[6] The construction work began on the nave and side aisles. the church building was consecrated on 28 December as St Thomas the Apostle, Church of England.[7] Five years later, in 1887, the chancel was added by Sir Arthur Blomfield. Blomfield designed the chancel with his vigorous, early, style, simple with no ornament.[8][9]

In 1899, a bazaar was opened at St Thomas for three days to raise money for the surrounding church's brick wall.[10] The church was repaired in 1928. Four years later in 1932, an enormous baroque altar was erected, and the pulpit and rails arrived from Belgium.[11]

In 1960, a plan was set for the demolition of St Thomas, but the parishioners fought back and managed to save their cherished Church by convincing the Diocesan Reorganisation Committee to prevent the demolition.[12]

In the same year 1960, St Thomas' church closed its site due to declining local usage.[13] The church building was abundant. In 1962, its Anglican congregation merged with nearby church St Stephen to create a parish of St Stephen and St Thomas.[14]

A new opening

In 1965, the Greek Orthodox community bought the lease of St Thomas Church, changed the name to St Nicholas Greek Orthodox and established a permanent home for their community.[15] Opening of the Church (Thyranoixia) was held, allowing the community to celebrate the Divine Liturgy service, Baptism, weddings and funerals.[16] It is within Greek Orthodox tradition that the community wait for years before the church is consecrated[17][18]

In 1985, the church was consecrated to Cathedral status, serving Greek Orthodox Christians across West London.[19]

In 2025, the church celebrated its 60th anniversary marking six decades of sacramental and cultural service since its founding.[20]

Architecture

A 19th century church was built by architect Sir Arthur William Blomfield (1829-1899)[21] The church is listed Grade II Listed building.

Exterior

The church was built with a classical Victorian Gothic architecture in yellow brick.[22] The foundation of the building was laid by Baroness Burdett-Coutts..

Interior

In 1965, the Greek Orthodox community transformed the Victorian interior layout into a traditional Orthodox design, adorned with icons, including one of St. Nicholas' icon as their patron protector and guardian.[23] The community installed the Iconostasis that separates the main congregation from the altar, creating a unique visual blend of traditional Byzantine icons from Eastern Europe underneath 150 year old English stained-glass windows.[24]

The church and community institute

  • Bible Studies
  • Byzantine Chanting
  • Greek language courses for Beginners, Advanced and Liturgical Greek
  • Iconography lessons

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Parish website".
  2. ↑ "Bishop of Myra". Archived. St Nicholas Centre, Bishop of Myra.
  3. ↑ Dioceses of the Ecumenical Patriarchate (2022-02-07). "Archbishop of Thyateira at St. Nicholas Shepherd's Bush in West London". Orthodox Times.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
  4. ↑ "History of the Archdiocese".
  5. ↑ Faulkner, Thomas (1965). Whitting, Philip D. (ed.). A History of Hammersmith based upon that of Thomas Faulkner in 1839. London: Hammersmith Local History Group. p. 157.
  6. ↑ Mitton, G.E.; Geikie, J.C. Hammersmith, Fulham and Putney.
  7. ↑ Faulkner, Thomas (1965). Whitting, Philip D. (ed.). A History of Hammersmith, based upon that of Thomas Faulkner in 1839. London: Hammersmith Local History Group. p. 157.
  8. ↑ Clarke, Basil F. L. (1966). Parish Churches of London. London: B T Batsford LTD. p. 74.
  9. ↑ Clarke, Basil F. L. Parish Churches of London. p. 75.
  10. ↑ "Bazaar at St. Thomas's, Shepherd's Bush". West London Observer (02 June 1899): 4 – via British Journal Achieves.
  11. ↑ Clarke, Basil F. L. Parish Churches of London. p. 75.
  12. ↑ "Parishioners Have Saved St Thomas's Church". West London Observer: 3. 19 August 1960 – via British Journal Archives.
  13. ↑ London Metropolitan Archives: Guide for Ancestry Users; A to Z of London Parishes
  14. ↑ Travelerspoint (17 December 2017). "Oliver Cromwell, Sheep, and Shepherds Bush". London, my home city. Retrieved 18 August 2026.
  15. ↑ Muller, Andrew J.; Barton, Roy (2018). The Ultimate Book of English Castles.
  16. ↑ "Metropolitan Cantor Institute". Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh.
  17. ↑ "Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America".
  18. ↑ A Dictionary of Greek Orthodoxy, Light & Life. Patrinacos, N. (1984).
  19. ↑ "Raving Loony Productions".
  20. ↑ "St Nicholas' parish archives (2025)".
  21. ↑ British Architectural Library (2001). Brodie, Antonia; Felstead, Alison; Franklin, Jonathan; Pinfield, Leslie; Oldfield, Jane (eds.). Directory of British Architects 1834-1914. Vol. 1: A-K (An updated and expanded edition 2nd ed.). London: Royal Institute of British Architects. p. 204. ISBN 0826455131.
  22. ↑ "London Churches in Photographs: see all the Anglican, Catholic and Orthodox church buildings in Greater London".
  23. ↑ "London Churches in Photographs".
  24. ↑ "St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral, London". Audiala.

Further reading

  • Ware, Metropolitan Kallistos (2018), The Orthodox Way, St Vladimir's Seminary Press, ISBN 9780881416299
  • Monk of the Eastern Church (1978), Orthodox Spirituality: an outline of the Orthodox Ascetical and Mystical Tradition, 2nd ed, London
  • Humpherys, Mike (2021), A Companion to Byzantine Iconoclasm, UK, ISBN 9789004339903
This page is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.