St Augustine's

St Augustine's is an Anglican church on Queen's Gate in South Kensington, London, on the edge of Brompton. It is a Grade II* listed building, a category reserved for particularly important buildings. It was designed by William Butterfield, an architect closely associated with Victorian Gothic Revival, and built in the 1860s and 1870s.

Who designed St Augustine's?

The architect was William Butterfield. He also designed the vicarage at 117 Queen's Gate, completed in 1881. Church and vicarage therefore form a coherent pair from a single hand, which gives students of Victorian architecture a reason to look at the surrounding street and not only at the church itself.

How did the parish begin?

The story starts in 1865. The Reverend R. R. Chope, a curate at Holy Trinity, Brompton, had a temporary iron church put up in his garden off Gloucester Road. In time the congregation asked the Church Commissioners to create a new parish, named St Augustine's, in South Kensington. Chope became the first incumbent.

When was it built?

Construction was gradual:

• the nave was ready for services in November 1871,
• the first service in the chancel took place on 26 May 1876,
• the church was consecrated on 20 December 1886.

Roughly fifteen years separate the first use of the nave from the formal consecration. A staged build of this kind was not unusual for a large parish church funded by its own community.

What does it look like?

The listing describes yellow brick with polychrome decoration, a hallmark of Butterfield's approach. Inside, the chancel and the font feature marble, and there is a brass lectern. This mix of brick and colourful materials is typical of Victorian Gothic Revival, which moved away from plain, uniform stone facades.

What happened later?

Chope, the first incumbent, resigned in 1916. By then the congregation was small and the parish was in financial difficulty. Today the church belongs to the parish of Holy Trinity with St Paul, Onslow Square, and St Augustine, and Nicky Gumbel is listed as vicar.

Is it worth a visit?

It makes a worthwhile stop for anyone interested in Victorian architecture, Butterfield's work or the history of London parishes. It lies in South Kensington, an area visitors often pass through on the way to the famous museums, so it is easy to combine with a walk around the neighbourhood. As it is a working church, access to the interior depends on service times and parish arrangements, so check the parish's current information before you go.

Frequently asked questions

What denomination is St Augustine's? It is an Anglican church, part of the Church of England.

Is the building listed? Yes, it is Grade II* listed.

Who designed it? William Butterfield, who also designed the vicarage at 117 Queen's Gate.

When was it consecrated? On 20 December 1886, although the nave had been in use since 1871.

Where is it? On Queen's Gate in South Kensington, west London.