Revisiting London's St Patrick's Church on St Patrick's Day
As London gears up to celebrate the Irish patron saint holiday, here's looking at the building that became the first Irish Catholic church in England in 1792
St Patrick's Church in Soho Square, London in 1964 (left) and today (right)
Images: Collage, Instagram @giti_zahav
It’s St Patrick’s Day. The revelry in London for the Irish holiday is expected to go on through the weekend, starting on Friday, March 17 and culminating on Sunday, March 19 with the famous parade from Piccadilly to Trafalgar Square.
(Read our previous posts about the history of Piccadilly here and Trafalgar Square here)
But just a short distance from the revellers in Soho Square, St Patrick’s Day will be quite a sombre event at the St Patrick’s Church.
The first Irish Catholic church to be built in England in 1792 after the Catholic Relief Act which brought freedom of teaching and worship, St Patrick’s church served as the ministry to Irish people in the area.
The church was built on the site of the Carlisle House. In 1792 Irish Father Arthur O’Leary raised funds with the help of rich Irish Catholics to build the church, moved by the plight of London’s many Irish poor at that time.
Today, the Irish have left, but the church serves many migrant communities around the area, observing mass in English, Spanish, Portuguese and even Cantonese.
The Grade-II listed building as it stands today was designed by Irishman John Kelly from Leeds with an unmistakable Roman porch with Corinthian columns. Today it is also considered the first church in England since the Reformation that is dedicated to St Patrick.
St Patrick’s Church, Soho Square, W1D 4NR
Nearest tube: Tottenham Court Road
