Churches of the British Isles

Sacred Heart Catholic Church is on the northern side of Horseferry Road, opposite Regency Street, a few doors west of the Baptist church. It was built as Westminster Wesleyan Chapel about 1874. In 1927 it was sold and donated by the new owner to the archdiocese of Westminster. In 1939 plans were submitted for the Convent of the Sacred Heart to be built here but the church was destroyed on 14 March 1944 by enemy action. It was rebuilt in 1962-1963.

St Stephen Rochester Row stands on the eastern side of Rochester Row, between Rochester Street and Vincent Square, opposite a row of almshouses. The church was built between 1847-1850 by Miss Angela Burdett-Coutts of the Coutts banking family as a memorial to her father, with encouragement from Charles Dickens, her friend. The church, in fourteenth century Decorated Gothic style, was designed by the architect Benjamin Ferrey, a pupil of the elder Pugin.

A tower and spire were added on the northern side, nearly sixty-one metres high. A ring of eight bells was cast by Charles and George Mears in 1850 and was hung in the new tower in a new frame. The bells were donated to the church by Angela Burdett-Coutts (later to become a baroness). These bells were replicated in the ring at New Westminster Cathedral, Canada, and were also given by Baroness Burdett-Coutts (although they have since been destroyed).

The Church of St Mary the Virgin Tothill Fields (sometimes referred to as Tothill Fields Church) stood at the western corner of Vincent Square, a large space of ground which covers about ten acres and which once formed part of Tothill Fields. The church was consecrated in October 1837 to the designs of Edward Blore, gaining its own parish in 1843. Probably due to falling attendances it closed in 1923 and was demolished. Today only the entrance gateposts remain.

Salvation Army Citadel, Rochester Row is squeezed between taller buildings on the street's southern side, opposite the entrance to Willow Place. Just when the citadel was built is unknown, but a date around 1910 may not be too wide of the mark. The citadel also provides a home for 'The Centre', a drop-in for homeless and vulnerable people, also known as Rochester Row Day Centre. A brass ensemble from Regent Hall played in 2010 for an open-air meeting nearby.

All photos on this page by P L Kessler.