St Peters Italian Church, Clerkenwell

I visited this beautiful Roman Catholic Church this week nestled in the City of London on Clerkenwell road, Holborn.

As a little girl my Nanny Rose said it was beautiful in there, and this was my very first time visiting. 

As I climbed up the steps from the main road there is a carved memorial in the shape of a ship dedicated to the Arandora Star which shows 3 drowning men reaching up to the cross from the waves. It was erected to remember those Italians that were killed when the Anadora Star sank in July 1940. Arandora Star's final voyage, was the transport of Italian and German internees as well as German prisoners of war to Canada. She was sunk by a German U-boat with a large loss of life, 865 is the estimated figure.

Above the façade is a 33 metre-high bell tower, built in 1891 which houses a bell known as "The Steel Monster".

As I then opened the double door, my Nanny Rose for sure was right I was in total awe the church is absolutely stunning. It opened in 1863, it was at the time the only church in Britain designed in the Roman basilican style. 

The Irish architect John Miller Bryson worked from plans drawn by Francesco Gualandi of Bologna, modelled on the Basilica of San Crisogno in Rome. It has a tranquil feel and i could have easily spent hours there, soaking up the prayerful atmosphere and admiring the stunning painted ceilings and artwork.

During World War II when Italian immigrants were interned, Irish Pallottines made use of the church. In 1953 it was returned to Italian control, since then it has been substantially remodelled during 1996.

The church has been the main gathering and reunion venue for the "Little Italy" community of Clerkenwell, and is a central feature of the annual procession of Our Lady of Mount Carmel held in mid July this is Little Italy’s most important event. Except during wartime it has taken place annually since at least 1896. According to the church’s historian, “it appears to have been the first outdoor Roman Catholic manifestation of faith in England since the time of Henry VIII’s Reformation”. 

Queen Victoria is said to have granted special permission to the local police chief in Holborn for the parade to take place.

St Peters Italian church is now one of my favourite churches in London.

St Peters Italian church is a listed Grade II building by Historic England and was first listed on 14 May 1974.