The Church of The Immaculate Conception, Farm Street

The Church of The Immaculate Conception, Farm Street, London.

Architect
This church is the London Jesuit headquarters, it was not designed by Pugin. The architect was Joseph James Scoles 1798-1863. He was a church architect based in London, who also designed Holy Trinity, Bermondsey and Our Lady, St. John's Wood.
The building of this church in Farm St. was begun in 1844 and it opened in 1849. Scoles asked Pugin to design the main altarpiece.

Entrance
The Farm Street entrance to the church is to my mind the only way to enter. It is in a quiet residential street, with four trees outside the entrance, which is an immitation of the west front of Beauvais Cathedral. You walk straight in under the organ loft and beautiful stained glass window. Shining in front of you is Pugin�s altar and reredos, which is a riot of carving, brasswork, and decoration.

Interior
Above Pugin�s altarpiece is a glorious arched stained glass window. Fr. Peter Gallwey had the window raised by ten foot to bring it above the the altarpiece and then lifted the floor of the sanctuary floor by several feet as well.
Pugin's altarpiece contains the inscription "Pray for the good estate of Monica Tempest of whose goods this altar was made". She and her family were generous donors to the Jesuits, Monica gave her money so this church could be built.
This church did not have a rood screen. Fr. Gallwey also had the sanctuary walls lined with Nottinghampshire alabaster. As if the sanctuary is not stunning enough the rest of the church is equally lovely.
Somehow it exudes a feeling of comfort and warmth, not awe and intimidation as so many churches do. The design of the church is such that as you enter, all of it is visible in one glance, however it still has corners to discover and delight the eye.

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	Architect This church is the London Jesuit headquarters, it was not designed by Pugin. The architect was Joseph James Scoles 1798-1863. He was a church architect based in London, who also designed Holy Trinity, Bermondsey and Our Lady, St. John's Wood. The building of this church in Farm St. was begun in 1844 and it opened in 1849. Scoles asked Pugin to design the main altarpiece.


Interior Above Pugin�s altarpiece is a glorious arched stained glass window. Fr. Peter Gallwey had the window raised by ten foot to bring it above the the altarpiece and then lifted the floor of the sanctuary floor by several feet as well. Pugin's altarpiece contains the inscription "Pray for the good estate of Monica Tempest of whose goods this altar was made". She and her family were generous donors to the Jesuits, Monica gave her money so this church could be built.		This church did not have a rood screen. Fr. Gallwey also had the sanctuary walls lined with Nottinghampshire alabaster. As if the sanctuary is not stunning enough the rest of the church is equally lovely. Somehow it exudes a feeling of comfort and warmth, not awe and intimidation as so many churches do. The design of the church is such that as you enter, all of it is visible in one glance, however it still has corners to discover and delight the eye.