Church of Our Lady and St Thomas of Canterbury, Harrow

Church of Our Lady and St Thomas of Canterbury is a Roman Catholic church in Roxborough Park on Harrow-on-the-Hill, in north-west London. It is a Grade II listed Victorian building designed by the architect Arthur Young, and it is a good stop for anyone interested in Gothic Revival architecture away from the capital's busiest sights.

Where is it and how do I get there?

The church stands in Roxborough Park, a residential street on Harrow-on-the-Hill, at roughly 51.576 N, 0.341 W. The area grew quickly once the Metropolitan Line reached Harrow-on-the-Hill in 1880, so the nearby station is the natural way to arrive from central London. From there it is a short walk through the quiet streets of the hill.

What is the history of the church?

The story begins in 1873, when a Catholic mission was founded here. At first the congregation worshipped in a tin church built in Roxborough Park, a common stopgap for growing Victorian parishes. As the suburb filled with new houses after the railway arrived, the community needed something permanent. The present church, together with its presbytery and an attached house, was completed in 1894.

A contemporary account indicates that the design originally included transepts and a shingled dwarf spire. Neither was ever built, which gives the church its present, compact outline. In the 1970s the building was underpinned to secure its foundations. It was listed Grade II in 1983.

What does the building look like?

The architect chose a Gothic style modelled on the fourteenth century. The walls are brick faced with roughcast, with stone dressings and windows in Monk's Park stone, plus a small amount of stone and flint chequerwork.

Key features described in the official listing:

• a long, low nave under a tiled roof;
• a south aisle with a timber waggon vault and a shorter north aisle;
• an octagonal baptistry to the west of the south aisle;
• a gallery at the west end;
• a short, battlemented octagonal tower with chequerboard decoration, east of the south porch.

What is inside?

The interior is known for its timber waggon roofs, which give the long nave a warm and enclosed feel. The stained glass is a highlight. It includes work by Patrick Nuttgens, who lived locally, as well as windows by Lavers & Westlake and other makers. Seeing glass from different periods in one small church is part of its appeal.

Can I visit?

This is a working parish church, so access depends on services and the parish's opening arrangements. Check the parish information before you go, and be respectful during Mass and private prayer. Photography of the exterior is easy from the street, and the octagonal tower is the most distinctive detail to look for.

Frequently asked questions

Who designed the church? Arthur Young, with the present building finished in 1894.

Is the church listed? Yes, it is Grade II listed, an entry dating from 25 May 1983.

What was here before the stone church? A tin church, built after the mission was established in 1873.

Why is there no spire? A contemporary account says a shingled dwarf spire and transepts were planned, but they were never built.

Who made the stained glass? Mainly Patrick Nuttgens, a local resident, alongside Lavers & Westlake and other makers.

Is it worth combining with other sights? Yes. Harrow-on-the-Hill is known for its historic hilltop streets, so the church fits naturally into a walk through the area.