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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox church
{{Infobox church
| name = St Peter's Italian Church
| name = St Peter's Italian Church
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| seniorpastor =
| seniorpastor =
| pastor =
| pastor =
| location = 136 [[Clerkenwell|Clerkenwell Road]], [[London]] EC1R 5DL
| location = 136 [[Clerkenwell|Clerkenwell Road]], [[London]] EC1R 5DL
| country = [[United Kingdom]]
| country = [[United Kingdom]]
| website = {{URL|https://www.italianchurch.org.uk/}}
| website = {{URL|https://www.italianchurch.org.uk/}}
}}
}}


'''St Peter's Italian Church''' is a [[Roman Rite|Roman]] [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] [[basilica]]-style church located on [[Clerkenwell Road]], Holborn, [[London]]. It lies just within the boundaries of the [[London Borough of Camden]], but is particularly associated with the Italian community of [[Clerkenwell]] (whose hub lies within the [[London Borough of Islington]]).
'''St Peter's Italian Church''' is a [[Roman Rite|Roman]] [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] [[basilica]]-style church located in [[Saffron Hill]] on [[Clerkenwell Road]], Holborn, [[London]]. It lies just within the boundaries of the [[London Borough of Camden]], but is particularly associated with the Italian community of [[Clerkenwell]] ("[[Little Italy, London|Little Italy]]"), whose hub lies within the [[London Borough of Islington]].

==History==
The church was built at the request of Saint [[Vincent Pallotti]], and remains under the control of the [[Pallottines]], the [[society of apostolic life|religious society]] which he founded. He had assistance from the politician and activist [[Giuseppe Mazzini]], who was in London at the time.<ref name="BBCLondon1">[https://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/articles/2005/05/26/italian_community_feature.shtml Italian London] ''[[BBC London]]'', 02/07/2008, 12:25UK (Accessed 27/08/2008)</ref> It was intended for the use of the growing number of Italian immigrants in London in the mid-19th century, and was modelled by Irish architect Sir John Miller-Bryson on the [[San Crisogono|Basilica San Crisogono]] in Rome.

It was consecrated on 16 April 1863 as "The Church of St Peter of all Nations". At the time of consecration, it was the only basilica-style church in the UK. Its organ was built in 1886 by [[Belgium|Belgian]] Anneesen.

During [[World War II]], when Italian immigrants were interned, Irish Pallottines made use of the church. In 1953 it was returned to Italian control, since when it has been substantially remodelled, most notably in 1996.

The church has been the main gathering and reunion venue for the community of [[Little Italy, London|Little Italy]] in Clerkenwell, and is a central feature of the annual ''processione'' held in mid-July.<ref>[https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipMKrnUrJ09HEFgxtfr3vY2hftI4lxj4gW3rpIhLyirIF5ERq2mPhe9npmn5bJe3zg?key=THk3QVppZi1qWjR3S2swMlVUUkpPbHFnR1J5UlFR Photos of the 2019 "Processione"]</ref>


==Architecture==
==Architecture==
Line 52: Line 62:
Above the façade is a 33-metre-high bell tower, built in 1891, which houses a bell known as "The Steel Monster".
Above the façade is a 33-metre-high bell tower, built in 1891, which houses a bell known as "The Steel Monster".
{{Quote|Although the original grand designs were never fully realised owing to a shortage of money, the final church built by J. M. Bryson proved to be pretty substantial. By the time it was completed, the nineteen metre high church had a capacity of two thousand and was the only church in the country to be built in the Roman Basilican style. The church seems to be jammed between various tall buildings, but it has a large and splendid interior. Today it has been accorded the status of a Grade II listed building. The church was equipped with a great bell cast in 1862 by [[Vickers|Naylor Vickers]] of Sheffield which was one of several bells exhibited at the International Exhibition that year. The casting would have taken place under the watchful eyes of Col. Tom E. Vickers, who ran the foundry at Millsands (which is on the River Don in Sheffield). It was (and still is) one of the largest bells in England, (not the largest RC bell: Hosanna, Downside, Ampleforth, Liverpool RC Metropolitan are all larger). With a weight of approximately 87 cwt and a diameter of 90 inches (228.5 cm), this bell really is big.... At that time, the only other large bell in London (apart from [[Big Ben]] in Westminster) was Great Tom in [[St Paul's Cathedral]]. At over 102 cwt, Great Tom is a heavier bell, but is nonetheless 7 inches smaller than the steel one.<ref>[http://london.lovesguide.com/articles/steel_monster.htm The Steel Monster bell]</ref>}}
{{Blockquote|Although the original grand designs were never fully realised owing to a shortage of money, the final church built by J. M. Bryson proved to be pretty substantial. By the time it was completed, the nineteen metre high church had a capacity of two thousand and was the only church in the country to be built in the Roman Basilican style. The church seems to be jammed between various tall buildings, but it has a large and splendid interior. Today it has been accorded the status of a Grade II listed building. The church was equipped with a great bell cast in 1862 by [[Vickers|Naylor Vickers]] of Sheffield which was one of several bells exhibited at the International Exhibition that year. The casting would have taken place under the watchful eyes of Col. Tom E. Vickers, who ran the foundry at Millsands (which is on the River Don in Sheffield). It was (and still is) one of the largest bells in England, (not the largest RC bell: Hosanna, Downside, Ampleforth, Liverpool RC Metropolitan are all larger). With a weight of approximately 87 cwt and a diameter of 90 inches (228.5 cm), this bell really is big.... At that time, the only other large bell in London (apart from [[Big Ben]] in Westminster) was Great Tom in [[St Paul's Cathedral]]. At over 102 cwt, Great Tom is a heavier bell, but is nonetheless 7 inches smaller than the steel one.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://london.lovesguide.com/articles/steel_monster.htm |title=The Steel Monster bell |access-date=7 March 2012 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303231155/http://london.lovesguide.com/articles/steel_monster.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>}}

<gallery widths="200px" mode="nolines">
File:St Peter's Italian Church, interior view.jpg
File:St Peter's Italian Church, organ and west end.jpg
File:St Peter's Italian Church, sanctuary and altars.jpg
File:St Peter's Italian Church, pieta.jpg
</gallery>


==Parish priests==
==Parish priests==
* Father Roberto Russo (1975–1991)
* Father Roberto Russo (1975–1991)
* Father Carmello di Giovanni (1991–2014)
* Father Carmello di Giovanni (1991–2014)
* Father Andrea Fulco (2014– )
* Father Andrea Fulco (2014–present)


==Assistant priests==
==Assistant priests==
* Father Carmello di Giovanni (1970–1991)
* Father Carmello di Giovanni (1970–1991)
* Father Roberto Russo (1991–2001)
* Father Roberto Russo (1991–2001)
* Father Ryszard Wrobel (2002– )
* Father Ryszard Wrobel (2002–2019)
* Father Giuseppe di Caro (2014– )
* Father Andrea Fulco (2003-2007)
* Father Giuseppe di Caro (2014–present)


==See also==
==See also==
Line 71: Line 89:


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


==Further reading==
==Further reading==
*{{cite book |title=St Peter's Italian Church / Chiesa Italiana di San Pietro |publisher=Jarrold Publishing |location=Norwich |isbn=978-0-7117-4483-7 |year=2007 |url=http://www.italianchurch.org.uk/DOCS/PDF/Stpeters.PDF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101224085912/http://www.italianchurch.org.uk/DOCS/PDF/Stpeters.PDF |url-status=dead |archive-date=2010-12-24 }}
*{{cite book |title=St Peter's Italian Church / Chiesa Italiana di San Pietro |publisher=Jarrold Publishing |location=Norwich |isbn=978-0-7117-4483-7 |year=2007 |url=http://www.italianchurch.org.uk/DOCS/PDF/Stpeters.PDF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101224085912/http://www.italianchurch.org.uk/DOCS/PDF/Stpeters.PDF |url-status=dead |archive-date=2010-12-24 }}
*{{cite book |first1=Bridget |last1=Cherry |author1-link=Bridget Cherry |first2=Nikolaus |last2=Pevsner |author2-link=Nikolaus Pevsner |title=London 4: North |series=[[Pevsner Architectural Guides|The Buildings of England]] |location=Harmondsworth |publisher=Penguin |year=1998 |page=261 }}


==External links==
==External links==
{{Commons category|St Peter's Italian Church, London}}
{{Commons category|St Peter's Italian Church, London}}
* {{official|https://www.italianchurch.org.uk/}}
* {{Official website|https://www.italianchurch.org.uk/}}
* {{NHLE |num=1356763 |desc=Roman Catholic Italian Church of St Peter and Presbytery |grade=II* |access-date=17 February 2023 }}


{{Coord|51.5223|-0.1091|display=title}}
{{Coord|51.5223|-0.1091|display=title}}


{{Churches in Camden}}
{{Churches in Camden}}
{{Diocese of Westminster}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Peter's Italian Church}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Holborn, Saint Peter}}
[[Category:Italian diaspora in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Italian diaspora in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic churches in the London Borough of Camden|Peter]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic churches in the London Borough of Camden]]
[[Category:Churches completed in 1863]]
[[Category:Churches completed in 1863]]
[[Category:1863 establishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:1863 establishments in the United Kingdom]]

Latest revision as of 11:30, 23 January 2024

St Peter's Italian Church
Map
Location136 Clerkenwell Road, London EC1R 5DL
CountryUnited Kingdom
DenominationRoman Catholic
Websitewww.italianchurch.org.uk
History
Consecrated16 April 1863
Architecture
Architect(s)Sir John Miller-Bryson
Administration
DioceseWestminster

St Peter's Italian Church is a Roman Catholic basilica-style church located in Saffron Hill on Clerkenwell Road, Holborn, London. It lies just within the boundaries of the London Borough of Camden, but is particularly associated with the Italian community of Clerkenwell ("Little Italy"), whose hub lies within the London Borough of Islington.

History

[edit]

The church was built at the request of Saint Vincent Pallotti, and remains under the control of the Pallottines, the religious society which he founded. He had assistance from the politician and activist Giuseppe Mazzini, who was in London at the time.[1] It was intended for the use of the growing number of Italian immigrants in London in the mid-19th century, and was modelled by Irish architect Sir John Miller-Bryson on the Basilica San Crisogono in Rome.

It was consecrated on 16 April 1863 as "The Church of St Peter of all Nations". At the time of consecration, it was the only basilica-style church in the UK. Its organ was built in 1886 by Belgian Anneesen.

During World War II, when Italian immigrants were interned, Irish Pallottines made use of the church. In 1953 it was returned to Italian control, since when it has been substantially remodelled, most notably in 1996.

The church has been the main gathering and reunion venue for the community of Little Italy in Clerkenwell, and is a central feature of the annual processione held in mid-July.[2]

Architecture

[edit]

The frontal section of the church consists of a loggia and portico with twin arches, above which are three alcoves. The central alcove contains a statue of Christ, whilst the sides contain statues of St Bede and St George. Between the alcoves are two large mosaics depicting the miracle of the fishes and Jesus giving the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven to St Peter.[3]

Memorial to the dead of the Arandora Star

In the loggia are two wall memorials: one, installed in 1927, to veterans (mostly Italian Britons) of World War I; and the other, installed in 1960, to 446 Italians who lost their lives on the SS Arandora Star in 1940.

Above the façade is a 33-metre-high bell tower, built in 1891, which houses a bell known as "The Steel Monster".

Although the original grand designs were never fully realised owing to a shortage of money, the final church built by J. M. Bryson proved to be pretty substantial. By the time it was completed, the nineteen metre high church had a capacity of two thousand and was the only church in the country to be built in the Roman Basilican style. The church seems to be jammed between various tall buildings, but it has a large and splendid interior. Today it has been accorded the status of a Grade II listed building. The church was equipped with a great bell cast in 1862 by Naylor Vickers of Sheffield which was one of several bells exhibited at the International Exhibition that year. The casting would have taken place under the watchful eyes of Col. Tom E. Vickers, who ran the foundry at Millsands (which is on the River Don in Sheffield). It was (and still is) one of the largest bells in England, (not the largest RC bell: Hosanna, Downside, Ampleforth, Liverpool RC Metropolitan are all larger). With a weight of approximately 87 cwt and a diameter of 90 inches (228.5 cm), this bell really is big.... At that time, the only other large bell in London (apart from Big Ben in Westminster) was Great Tom in St Paul's Cathedral. At over 102 cwt, Great Tom is a heavier bell, but is nonetheless 7 inches smaller than the steel one.[4]

Parish priests

[edit]
  • Father Roberto Russo (1975–1991)
  • Father Carmello di Giovanni (1991–2014)
  • Father Andrea Fulco (2014–present)

Assistant priests

[edit]
  • Father Carmello di Giovanni (1970–1991)
  • Father Roberto Russo (1991–2001)
  • Father Ryszard Wrobel (2002–2019)
  • Father Andrea Fulco (2003-2007)
  • Father Giuseppe di Caro (2014–present)

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Italian London BBC London, 02/07/2008, 12:25UK (Accessed 27/08/2008)
  2. ^ Photos of the 2019 "Processione"
  3. ^ Photos of the church
  4. ^ "The Steel Monster bell". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2012.

Further reading

[edit]
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to St Peter's Italian Church, London.

51°31′20″N 0°06′33″W / 51.5223°N 0.1091°W / 51.5223; -0.1091

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