| Admin_History | Soon after Herbert Vaughan became Archbishop of Westminster in 1892, he was petitioned by nearly 300 people for a parish to be set up in the Stamford Hill area. In response, Cardinal Vaughan invited the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) to open a parish, an elementary (primary) school and a secondary school for boys. The first Mass was celebrated in Morecambe Lodge. The following year, Burleigh House, the villa next door, was also bought. It was used to house the Jesuit community until the present presbytery opened in 1928.
A chapel was constructed out of stables, the coach house and stable yard of Morecambe Lodge, but soon it became clear that a proper church was needed. Largely for financial reasons, St Ignatius church was built in two stages. The first part, which included the sanctuary, was opened in 1903 and the building was completed in 1911.
The architect was Benedict Williamson. |