Maxine Morse · Apr 13, 2023 · 5 mins

Fitzrovia Chapel – A Neo-Gothic Glistening Masterpiece

Updated: Apr 13

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On entering the Fitzrovia Chapel, you feel like you are in an encrusted jewelled box.

The gleaming golden, pristine space is quite the opposite of a a dusty, ancient church. This is in part due to its recent restoration. The chapel was restored by conservation architects as part of a £2m renovation as recently as 2013-2015.

Originally, the chapel was part of the Middlesex Hospital and its services were broadcast on the hospital radio to those who were too sick to leave their beds.

The History of the Fitzrovia Chapel

In the 1700’s London only had two hospitals and there was a huge demand for more infirmaries. Middlesex Infirmary opened in 1740 and it was founded as a charity for the “sick and lame of soho”.

It was called the Middlesex Hospital as London at the time was in the county of Middlesex.

In the 1880’s the hospital board of governors were keen to create a chapel. Up unitil that point, all their religious services were being taken in meeting rooms. The governors commissioned the gothic revival architect John Loughborough Pearson to undertake the project.

Construction began on the Fitzrovia Chapel in 1891. When Pearson died his son Frank took over the project. The resulting design is a tribute to both father and son. Its first ever service was on Christmas Day in 1891.

The Chapel’s Design

Ceiling

The awe-inspiring vaulted ceiling was not part of the original Fitzrovia Chapel design. It was first intended to be open oak ceiling. Frank Loughborough Pearson changed this to gilded mosaics. He adopted the mantra “Does it send you to your knees?” for all of his design modifications.

The Baptistery

The baptistery has a European influence and is similar to other baptisteries found in in Palermo and Venice The surrounding four windows show the soldier saints of Joan of Arc, Saint George, Saint Alban and Saint Martin as a memorial to those who died in the First World War.

The stained glass windows in the baptistery.

The Font

The font is inscribed in Greek with “wash clean my sins, not just my face” which is the same inscription as that used on the font outside the Haghia Sophia in Istanbul.

The font is carved in Verd Antique which is a decorative dark green and mottled white facing stone.

The Organ

The mosaics above the organ show the Latin phrase ‘Gloria in excelsis deo et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis’ which means ‘Glory to God in the highest, and peace to all men on earth’

The original thirteen stop organ has been removed and replaced with an electric Allen organ. This is occasionally used for weddings and concerts.

The Altar

Fitzrovia Chapel’s has a marble altar. The piscina, balustrade and eagle lectern are carved in alabaster. Near to this, an incision commemorates the lying-in-state of Rudyard Kipling, the poet and author, who died at the Middlesex Hospital.

The Fitzrovia Chapel Today

Today its purpose is to act as a:

Film location
Exhibition space
Wedding venue
Concert studio
Workshop

Marriage Proposals and Weddings

The small redbrick annexe leads into a surprising romantic cocoon making it popular for marriage proposals.

Petals are scattered, candles are lit, a harpsichord or violinist plays. Any lover would be mad to say No when confronted with such a romantic setting.

A proposal may last just an hour but here it will be remembered for a life time.

The intimate venue also makes it perfect for small weddings, even very small weddings of just a handful of people. I see it as the perfect alternative to an elopement. Do people elope anymore? It is certainly much more intimate than a registry office. When I visited, someone who had recently got married at the Fitzrovia Chapel was there to reminisce about her wedding. The chapel clearly held beautiful memories for her.

Book Launches

More surprisingly book authors, including the leading poverty campaigner Jack Monroe, have held their book launches in this opulent environment.

Filming and Recording

The Fitzrovia Chapel has also featured in films and as a recording backdrop for various music artists. As the chapel has not been over used the venue still creates a backdrop buzz.