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Coordinates: 51°30′41″N 0°07′48″W / 51.511308°N 0.130038°W / 51.511308; -0.130038
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{{For|the cathedral|Notre-Dame de Paris}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox church
{{Infobox church
|name = Notre Dame de France
|name = Notre Dame de France
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|pushpin mapsize = 257x240
|pushpin mapsize = 257x240
|map caption = Location of church within Westminster, London
|map caption = Location of church within Westminster, London

|latd = 51.511308
|longd = -0.130038
|coordinates = {{coord|51.511308|-0.130038|region:GB_type:landmark|display=title}}
|coordinates = {{coord|51.511308|-0.130038|region:GB_type:landmark|display=title}}
|osgraw =
|osgraw =
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|founded date =
|founded date =
|founder = Father Charles Faure
|founder = Father Charles Faure
|dedication = [[Blessed Virgin Mary (Roman Catholic)|Mary (mother of Jesus)]]
|dedication = [[Society of Mary (Marists)|Mary (mother of Jesus)]]
|dedicated date =
|dedicated date =
|consecrated date = 11 June 1868
|consecrated date = 11 June 1868
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|functional status = Parish Church
|functional status = Parish Church
|heritage designation = Grade II
|heritage designation = Grade II
|designated date = 25-Sep-1998<ref name=HeritageListing>{{cite web|title=Heritage listing for CHURCH OF NOTRE DAME DE FRANCE, LEICESTER PLACE WC2|url=http://list.historicengland.org.uk/resultsingle.aspx?uid=1376623|website=Historic england|accessdate=12 June 2015}}</ref>
|designated date = 25 September 1998<ref name=HeritageListing>{{NHLE|desc=CHURCH OF NOTRE DAME DE FRANCE, LEICESTER PLACE WC2|num=1376623|accessdate=12 June 2015}}</ref>
|architect = [[Louis-Auguste Boileau]]
|architect = [[Louis-Auguste Boileau]]<br /> [[Hector Corfiato]]
|architectural type = Cast-iron, Circular
|architectural type = Cast-iron, Circular
|style =
|style =
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}}
}}


'''Notre Dame de France''' is a French Catholic church in [[London]]'s Chinatown. It is located on [[Leicester Place]] just north of [[Leicester Square]].
'''Notre Dame de France''' is a French Catholic church in [[London]]'s [[Soho]]. It is located on [[Leicester Place]] just north of [[Leicester Square]].


==History==
==History==
[[File:Notre Dame de France Church Interior, London, UK - Diliff.jpg|thumb|left|Interior of Notre Dame de France]]
[[File:Notre Dame de France Church Interior, London, UK - Diliff.jpg|thumb|left|Interior of Notre Dame de France]]
The origins of the church date back to the mid 1800s, however, the building itself is earlier. In 1861, [[Cardinal Wiseman]], [[Archbishop of Westminster]], asked the [[Marist Fathers]] to establish a mission to support the large French community in the area, and placed Father Charles Faure in charge of the project.<ref name=NDDFParishHistory>{{cite web|title=Parish History|url=http://www.ndfchurch.org/en/parish-information/art-history/parish-history/|website=Notre Dame de France|accessdate=12 June 2015}}</ref> On the 25th of March 1865, Father Faure purchased a circular building off Leicester Square. It was known as ''Burford's Panorama'' and was an early form of visual entertainment in the West End, built as a tourist attraction in the early 1800s.<ref name=NDDFParishHistory /> Faure employed the services of French architect [[Louis-Auguste Boileau]], an early promoter of cast iron architecture, to transform this building into a church. He retained the rotunda, hence the circular shape of the present building. Upon consecration in 1868, it was the first cast-iron church built in London.
The origins of the church date back to the mid 1800s, however, the building itself is older. In 1861, [[Cardinal Wiseman]], [[Archbishop of Westminster]], asked the [[Marist Fathers]] to establish a mission to support the large French community in the area, and placed Father Charles Faure in charge of the project.<ref name=NDDFParishHistory>{{cite web|title=Parish History|url=http://www.ndfchurch.org/en/parish-information/art-history/parish-history/|website=Notre Dame de France|access-date=12 June 2015|archive-date=13 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150613232954/http://www.ndfchurch.org/en/parish-information/art-history/parish-history/|url-status=dead}}</ref> On 25 March 1865, Father Faure purchased a circular building off Leicester Square. It was known as ''[[Burford's Panorama]]'' and was an early form of visual entertainment in the West End, built as a tourist attraction in the early 1800s.<ref name=NDDFParishHistory /> Faure employed the services of French architect [[Louis-Auguste Boileau]], an early promoter of cast iron architecture, to transform this building into a church. He retained the rotunda, hence the circular shape of the present building. Upon consecration in 1868, it was the first cast-iron church built in London.


==World War II==
==Second World War==
During the [[Battle of Britain]] in 1940, the church was badly damaged by bombing. The following year, it re-opened after extensive structural repairs overseen by Father Laurent.<ref name=NDDFParishHistory /> However, it still needed much work, and it was not until 1948 that repairs were completed under the supervision of the new Superior, Father Deguerry and with the support of French Ambassador Jean Chauvel, the French cultural attaché René Varin and the British Prime Minister, [[Anthony Eden]]. René Varin encouraged the creation of a sacred space that would honour France. In the period between 1953 and 1960, he approached eminent artists of the time to work on the decoration of the rebuilt church.<ref name=NDDFParishHistory />
During the [[Battle of Britain]] in 1940, the church was badly damaged by bombing. The following year, it re-opened after extensive structural repairs overseen by Father Laurent.<ref name=NDDFParishHistory /> However, it still needed much work, and it was not until 1948 that repairs were completed under the supervision of the new Superior, Father Deguerry and with the support of French Ambassador Jean Chauvel, the French cultural attaché René Varin and the British Prime Minister, [[Anthony Eden]]. René Varin encouraged the creation of a sacred space that would honour France. In the period between 1953 and 1960, he approached eminent artists of the time to work on the decoration of the rebuilt church.<ref name=NDDFParishHistory />

The architect for the rebuilding of the church in 1953-55 was [[Hector Corfiato]].<ref>{{cite web| url = http://taking-stock.org.uk/Home/Dioceses/Archdiocese-of-Westminster/Leicester-Place-Notre-Dame-de-France-French-Church| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161220052845/http://taking-stock.org.uk/Home/Dioceses/Archdiocese-of-Westminster/Leicester-Place-Notre-Dame-de-France-French-Church| archive-date = 2016-12-20| title = Leicester Place - Notre Dame de France (French Church) / Archdiocese of Westminster / Dioceses / Home / Taking Stock - Taking Stock}}</ref>

==Artwork==
Over the entrance is a bas relief carving of Our Lady of Mercy (1953) by [[Georges Saupique|Georges-Laurent Saupique]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ndfchurch.org/en/a-propos/art-histoire/|title=Art|website=Notre Dame de France}}</ref>

The tapestry behind the main altar is by [[:fr:Dom Robert|Dom Robert]], a Benedictine monk of the [[En-Calcat Abbey]], on the theme of Paradise on earth, with references to the Creation and to Wisdom, the New Eve. The quotation is from the book of Proverbs.

The Lady Chapel contains murals by [[Jean Cocteau]] (1960) depicting the Annunciation, Crucifixion and Assumption. The murals were restored in 2012. The wooden board that was painted by Cocteau was removed to reveal the mosaic of the Nativity (1954) by [[Boris Anrep]] on the altar; the Cocteau painting remains on display on an adjacent wall.

There is a modern altarpiece showing 'The Flight of Holy Family into Egypt' by [[Timur D'Vatz]] (2016).


==Organ==
==Organ==
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==Pastoral services==
==Pastoral services==
The modern church provides pastoral services to the growing French community in London, and has developed a series of charitable and evangelizing initiatives with other local Catholic churches of the West End.
The modern church provides pastoral services to the growing French community in London, and has developed a series of charitable and evangelizing initiatives with other local Catholic churches of the West End.

==See also==
{{Portal|Catholicism|London}}

*[[French migration to the United Kingdom]]


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
<references />
{{Commons cat|Church of Notre Dame De France}}
{{Commons category|Church of Notre Dame De France}}
{{Soho}}
{{Soho}}
{{Churches in Westminster}}
{{Churches in Westminster}}
{{Diocese of Westminster}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:Roman Catholic churches in London]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic churches in the City of Westminster]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Westminster]]
[[Category:Churches in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Westminster]]
[[Category:19th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:19th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:British churches bombed by the Luftwaffe]]
[[Category:Churches bombed by the Luftwaffe in London]]
[[Category:Soho, London]]
[[Category:Soho, London]]
[[Category:Churches in the City of Westminster]]
[[Category:Grade II listed churches in the City of Westminster]]
[[Category:French diaspora in Europe]]
[[Category:Grade II listed Roman Catholic churches in England]]

Latest revision as of 00:18, 6 August 2024

For the cathedral, see Notre-Dame de Paris.

Notre Dame de France
Entrance to Notre Dame de France
Notre Dame de France is located in City of Westminster
Notre Dame de France
Notre Dame de France
Location of church within Westminster, London
51°30′41″N 0°07′48″W / 51.511308°N 0.130038°W / 51.511308; -0.130038
LocationSoho, London
CountryUnited Kingdom
DenominationRoman Catholic
Websitendfchurch.org
History
StatusActive
Founder(s)Father Charles Faure
DedicationMary (mother of Jesus)
Consecrated11 June 1868
Architecture
Functional statusParish Church
Heritage designationGrade II
Designated25 September 1998[1]
Architect(s)Louis-Auguste Boileau
Hector Corfiato
Architectural typeCast-iron, Circular
Administration
ArchdioceseWestminster

Notre Dame de France is a French Catholic church in London's Soho. It is located on Leicester Place just north of Leicester Square.

History

[edit]
Interior of Notre Dame de France

The origins of the church date back to the mid 1800s, however, the building itself is older. In 1861, Cardinal Wiseman, Archbishop of Westminster, asked the Marist Fathers to establish a mission to support the large French community in the area, and placed Father Charles Faure in charge of the project.[2] On 25 March 1865, Father Faure purchased a circular building off Leicester Square. It was known as Burford's Panorama and was an early form of visual entertainment in the West End, built as a tourist attraction in the early 1800s.[2] Faure employed the services of French architect Louis-Auguste Boileau, an early promoter of cast iron architecture, to transform this building into a church. He retained the rotunda, hence the circular shape of the present building. Upon consecration in 1868, it was the first cast-iron church built in London.

Second World War

[edit]

During the Battle of Britain in 1940, the church was badly damaged by bombing. The following year, it re-opened after extensive structural repairs overseen by Father Laurent.[2] However, it still needed much work, and it was not until 1948 that repairs were completed under the supervision of the new Superior, Father Deguerry and with the support of French Ambassador Jean Chauvel, the French cultural attaché René Varin and the British Prime Minister, Anthony Eden. René Varin encouraged the creation of a sacred space that would honour France. In the period between 1953 and 1960, he approached eminent artists of the time to work on the decoration of the rebuilt church.[2]

The architect for the rebuilding of the church in 1953-55 was Hector Corfiato.[3]

Artwork

[edit]

Over the entrance is a bas relief carving of Our Lady of Mercy (1953) by Georges-Laurent Saupique.[4]

The tapestry behind the main altar is by Dom Robert, a Benedictine monk of the En-Calcat Abbey, on the theme of Paradise on earth, with references to the Creation and to Wisdom, the New Eve. The quotation is from the book of Proverbs.

The Lady Chapel contains murals by Jean Cocteau (1960) depicting the Annunciation, Crucifixion and Assumption. The murals were restored in 2012. The wooden board that was painted by Cocteau was removed to reveal the mosaic of the Nativity (1954) by Boris Anrep on the altar; the Cocteau painting remains on display on an adjacent wall.

There is a modern altarpiece showing 'The Flight of Holy Family into Egypt' by Timur D'Vatz (2016).

Organ

[edit]

The organ was built by August Gern in 1868. It was enlarged in 1938 by J. W. Walker & Sons Ltd, dismantled during the 1940 blitz of London and rebuilt in 1955 by J.W. Walker & Sons. It was renovated in 1986 and modernised and refurbished by B.C. Shepherd & Son in 2010.

Pastoral services

[edit]

The modern church provides pastoral services to the growing French community in London, and has developed a series of charitable and evangelizing initiatives with other local Catholic churches of the West End.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Historic England. "CHURCH OF NOTRE DAME DE FRANCE, LEICESTER PLACE WC2 (1376623)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d "Parish History". Notre Dame de France. Archived from the original on 13 June 2015. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  3. ^ "Leicester Place - Notre Dame de France (French Church) / Archdiocese of Westminster / Dioceses / Home / Taking Stock - Taking Stock". Archived from the original on 20 December 2016.
  4. ^ "Art". Notre Dame de France.
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