Religious Life

"Welcome! I am part of the team of Catholic Chaplains who serve London’s many universities and it’s my privilege to be chaplain to the Notre Dame London Centre. I am in the London Centre every Tuesday at lunch time to say Mass at 12.05pm and to meet and greet students afterwards, and at Conway Hall each Sunday evening. I’m delighted if someone comes and says hello, and would also be very happy to lend a listening ear to anyone who wants to talk." - Fr Chris

CHAPLAIN:  Fr Christopher Pearson
Email: fr_pearson@yahoo.co.uk

Regular worship:

WEEKLY LUNCHTIME MASS:
Every Tuesday at 12.05 Fr Chris offers Mass for any students and faculty who can come in the lovely St Anselm’s chapel, which is on the top floor of the London Centre. It is a lovely quiet room where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved and where you can go for some time out or to pray. All are welcome.

CONWAY HALL MASS:
Fr Chris offers Mass on Sunday evenings at Conway Hall - all are welcome.

NEWMAN HOUSE, the University Catholic Chaplaincy (111 Gower St, London WC1 6AR www.universitycatholic.net) are an international chaplaincy centre. You will always be welcome to go there, meet other students and get involved. Sunday Mass is at 10.30am and 7.30pm.

The LUP newsletter, In the LUPe, will have a regular 'church of the week' section, if you are interested in sampling from the wide range of Catholic communities in London, and arriving students will find maps of local churches in their flats.

St Anselm’s chapel is available at all times when the building is over for quiet reflection.

Special events: details coming soon!

LOCAL CHURCHES

Going to a local parish church or cathedral is a great way to burst out of the Notre Dame bubble, meet friendly people and experience more of the everyday life of where you are living.

Catholicism is not a dominant religion in London and the vast majority of the churches in the city are Anglican. Owing to the strong English cathedral tradition that retained ‘high’ worship, it can be hard to tell the difference between Anglican and Catholic churches. If a church advertises ‘Evensong’ (as opposed to nothing or ‘Vespers’) then it is probably Anglican.

Some Catholic churches in London:

St Patrick’s, Cornwall Road, Waterloo – the nearest church to Conway Hall, right around the corner away from the river. Sunday Masses at 5.30pm (vigil), 9am and 11am. Run by Franciscans, this is the smallest church in the Archdiocese of Southwark and known for its friendly cultural diversity. Go and experience global Catholicism in London and a real parish of local people.

St George’s RC Cathedral, Southwark – where we will have our opening Mass of the semester. This is right by the grand Imperial War Museum, the other side of Waterloo Station. Not to be confused with the Anglican Cathedral in Southwark, which is right by London Bridge Station.

Westminster Cathedral – NOT Westminster Abbey by the Houses of Parliament, but instead further up Victoria St on the left hand side behind a ‘piazza’ or square. It is instantly identifiable by its distinctive Byzantine style and red-and-white stripes. It is home to a wonderful organ and world-class choir that offer arguably the best Catholic music in England. If you want to hear the full choir, aim for the 10.30am Sunday Mass or Vespers at 3.30pm on Sunday (which is followed by a free organ recital). During the week Vespers is sung at 5pm (without the boy choristers on Wed), with Mass at 5.30pm. The choristers will be on holiday until early September.

Corpus Christi, Maiden Lane – unassuming from the outside, this beautiful church is right by Covent Garden. Sunday Masses: 6pm (vigil), 9.30am and 11.30am. Latin Mass, 6.30pm Mondays; weekday Masses 1.05pm.

St Etheldreda’s, Ely Place – the oldest Catholic Church in England.

St Patrick’s, Soho – recently re-opened after a major refurbishment project, this is a popular church for young Catholics in the city. They have daily Mass at 12.45pm and their music at the weekend is renowned for being particularly fine. Sunday Mass

The Brompton Oratory – traditional liturgy in upmarket South Kensington, perfect for a Sunday of museum-visiting down Exhibition Road, which is home to the Natural History Museum, Science Museum, and the Victoria and Albert Museum.

 

Some Protestant churches in London:

St John the Evangelist – Conway Hall is right next to St John’s.

Westminster Abbey – used for the coronations of monarchs and home to the tombs of kings, queens and notable national figures. There is an admission fee for tourists, but entry for services is free. There is always a major celebration at the Abbey on 13 October in commemoration of the translation of Edward the Confessor’s body to the shrine in the Abbey (the church that he had built as king).

Christ Church & Upton Chapel (Oasis church) – United Reformed Church (akin to DOC). 

St Paul’s Cathedral – across the Millennium Bridge from Tate Modern, this is the famous church built on a grand scale after the Great Fire of London in 1665.

St Martin’s in the Fields, Trafalgar Square – famous for its homeless outreach project (The Connection), the cafe in its crypt, and its wonderful lunchtime and evening concerts. It has an active Chinese-speaking congregation.