All Saints Notting Hill is a Church of England parish church in Talbot Road, Notting Hill, London, that is affiliated to the Anglo-Catholic Forward in Faith movement. The church is built in a Victorian Gothic Revival style with striking polychromatic decoration. For heritage purposes the church is a Grade II* listed building.

History

The building of All Saints' Church was begun in 1852 for the Reverend Dr Samuel Walker. Walker was a wealthy property speculator, one of several buying up land in the area that was then to be known as Kensington Park.'The Ladbroke estate: The 1850s. Land purchase and development by Blake and Dr. Walker, 1850–3'. Survey of London: Volume 37, Northern Kensington. 220–235. Originally published by London County Council, London, 1973. Online resource, accessed 29 October 2023. The church was designed by architect William White, working with Sir George Gilbert Scott, as to be the centrepiece of Walker's local property development, and a church without pew rents. Walker's property speculation in the area was a financial failure and he sold his interests to others speculating on property in the newly emerging area of Kensington Park.'The Ladbroke estate: Building boom and collapse in the early 1850s. Land purchase and development by Blake and Dr. Walker, 1850–3'. Survey of London: Volume 37, Northern Kensington. 220–235. Originally published by London County Council, London, 1973. Online resource, accessed 29 October 2023. As a result, the church-building was left unfinished for a number of years during which time in some quarters it received the epithet "All-Sinners-in-the-Mud".

All Saints was eventually completed in 1861 at a cost of £25,000, without its spire, for the incumbency of Reverend John Light of Trinity College Dublin.

The tower is high and is said to resemble the Medieval Gothic Belfry of Bruges, Belgium.

All Saints suffered serious bomb damage in The Blitz of World War II, along with neighbouring buildings including Pinehurst Court, at 1–9 Colville Gardens. The first bombs fell on 26 September 1940, and the church was hit again in March and June 1944. The Lady Chapel and the south transept chapel were destroyed. Restoration work was completed in 1951.

On 14 October 1966, Pink Floyd played the first of a number of events known as Notting Hill Fayre at All Saints church hall. The events, staged by the London Free School, were the forerunners of the internationally renowned Notting Hill Carnival. Three years later Hawkwind also played the church hall.

Clergy From 1931 to 1961 the vicar was the outgoing and gregarious Fr John Twisaday, who established the high church worship tradition at All Saints. From January 2025 Rev. Charles Card-Reynolds will be Vicar.Parish website announcement. Online resource, accessed 11 November 2024.

Vicars 1861–85 John Light 1885–96 Robert Trench 1896–1907 Philip Herbert Learyk 1907–31 Herbert Ridley 1932–61 John Herbert Cloete Twisaday 1961–66 John Herbert Brewer 1966–67 John Henry Dixon 1967–74 Peter Clark 1976–2018 John Brownsell 2019–2024 Philip Corbett 2025– Charles Card-Reynolds

Decoration and fittings The chancel has paintings by Henry Holiday.

Notable parishioners Walter Passmore (1867–1946), a singer and actor best known for his comic baritone roles in Gilbert and Sullivan operas with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, was a choirboy at All Saints.

Organs and organists Organs

1862–63. The church's first organ was built by Gray & Davison having first been displayed at the 1862 International Exhibition.The National Pipe Organ Register: N17507 It was located in the south transept of the church. This position led to some criticism:

1902. A new three-manual organ by Norman and Beard was installed,Frederick W. Thorsby Dictionary of Organs and Organists, 131 (London: G.A. Mate, 1921). Online resource, accessed 24 October 2023. in the north chancel and north transept.'Organ News' . Musical Opinion and Music Trade Review Jun 1902; 25, 297 p.671. 1952. The organ was reconstructed by Percy Daniel & Co, Clevedon, with the pipe-work placed inside the tower speaking into the church via an opening onto the west gallery.National Pipe Organ Register: D03538. Online resource, accessed 23 October 2023.

Organists (n.d.) Henry John Gauntlett (9 July 1805 Wellington – 21 February 1876 Kensington). Mus.D. (Lambeth, 1843)W. B. Henshaw Biographical Dictionary of the Organ, Bardon Music. Online resource, accessed 26 October 2023, (n.d.) George Benjamin Allen (21 April 1822 London – 30 November 1897 Brisbane) Mus.B. (Oxon, 1852). (1873–86) Edward Henry Birch. (12 December 1849 Uxbridge – 9 April 1934 Kensington) Mus.B. (Oxon, 1875). (1885/6?-at least 1892) George Ernest Lake (29 May 1854 London – 15 March 1893 London). (noted In post in1902 & 1921) Richard William Robertson (c.1880 Kensington – 11 May 1936 St Pancras).A Dictionary of Organs and Organists Frederick W Thorsby (London : G.A. Mate, 1921) p.141 (1905–) Henry Scott-Baker (1880 London -?) A.R.A.M., L.R.A.M., A.R.C.O.'Organist Choirmaster and Choir Appointments' The Musical Times 1 August 1905: Vol 46 no.750 p.539. (noted In post in 1921) Benham Blaxland (1861 Parramatta – 1926 London).Frederick W. Thorsby Dictionary of Organs and Organists, 309 (London: G.A. Mate, 1921). Online resource, accessed 24 October 2023. (1936–42) Joseph Hurst Bannister (1882 Burton-upon-Trent – 2 August 1942 Lindfield). (noted in post in 1957/8) Nicholas Jackson (1934– ), 3rd Bt (1979). LRAM.The Musical Times Vol. 98, No. 1377 (Nov. 1957), 640. Vol. 99, No. 1384 (Jun. 1958), 344.Jackson baronets, of Eagle House (1913)'Sir Nicholas Fane St. George Jackson, 3rd Bt.' in Mosley, Charles (ed) Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage (Wilmington: Burke's Peerage, 2003) (1975) Organist post advertised jointly with St John's Notting Hill, £200 p.a.The Musical Times, Jan. 1975, Vol. 116, No. 1583 (Jan. 1975), 87 (noted in post 2005) Andrew Tait GGSMD MA MMus.UCL Singers concert programme, 21 March 2005. PDF. Online resource, accessed 23 October 2023. (2021–23) Christopher Myhill (1980– )LinkedIn profile. Online resource, accessed 24 October 2023.

Assistant organists 1877–79 Henry William Richards (16 April 1865, Notting Hill) – 4 January 1956. Reading). Mus.D. (Dunelm, 1903), Hon.R.A.M., Hon.R.C.M., F.R.C.O. September 1959 Assistant organist post advertised at £40 p.a.The Musical Times, Vol. 100, No. 1399 (Sep. 1959), 494.

Notes

References

(EBook 21643)

External links

All Saints Notting Hill