Record

AAW - Archives of the Archbishop of Westminster
- DOW - Diocese of Westminster
  - PAR - Parishes

Repository	Archives of the Archbishop of Westminster
Ref No	AAW/DOW/PAR/173
Title	St. John's Wood, Our Lady
Level	Series
Description	The building of the Church of Our Lady was funded by two sisters, Louise and Joyce Ann 'Jessie' Gallini, who had inherited a fortune from their father, Sir John Gallini, on his death in 1805. (A renowned dancer, choreographer and theatre impresario, Giovanni Andrea Battista Gallini was said to have originally come to England as a refugee from Italy in 1757. He later changed his name to John Andrew Gallini). The Gallini sisters' first wish was to establish a mission in Hanover Square, where the family home was, but this was opposed by Bishop James Yorke Bramston. They then leased land from the Eyre Estate in St Johns Wood, where they built a temporary chapel in 1832. The Gallini sisters wanted the mission to come under the pastoral care of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits), but were unsuccessful in this despite making direct appeals to the Duke of Norfolk and to Pope Gregory XVI. Bishop Bramston's opposition to their proposal ensured that, since its formation, the parish has been served by secular clergy. The present church was opened in 1836. It is located a little to the north of the West End of London at 54 Lodge Road, NW8 8LA at the top of Lisson Grove, on the corner of Lodge Road, and near the junction with St John’s Wood Road. Originally, the Gallini sisters lived at one end of the church, the south transept, while the north transept served as the presbytery. Only in 1937, a hundred years after the opening of the church, were the priests to move into the current rectory and the two transepts incorporated into the church. The first priest appointed to the new mission was Fr James O'Neil. According to a structural report carried out on the church in 1980, there is little information about the history of the church "as a result of loss of essential documents due to war damage during the Second World War". The church did suffer much damage, particularly as the result of a V2 rocket, which also damaged the nearby synagogue. It fell into a state of disrepair, and was nearly demolished in the 1970s, but a campaign for its preservation led to its becoming a listed building, and it was refurbished and reordered.

Hours of Marie de Rieux, The

Hours of Marie de Rieux, The

Holy Oil holders

Holy Oil holders

Hours of Marie de Rieux, The

Hours of Marie de Rieux, The

Album amicorum of George Strachan

Album amicorum of George Strachan

Rental Book

Explore Showcase