Tired of London, Tired of Life - A website about things to do in London

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20 March 2010

Visit Grosvenor Chapel

Constructed in the 1730s, Grosvenor Chapel, on South Audley Street in Mayfair, was apparently the inspiration for many churches in North America. It is also notable for the transformation of the interior which was carried out by John Ninian Comper in 1912-13.


The first stone was laid on 7 April 1730 by Sir Richard Grosvenor, who owned most of the buildings in the area, as his descendants continue to do by birthright. Grosvenor leased the site for 99 years at a peppercorn rent to a syndicate of four “undertakers” led by Benjamin Timbrell, a prosperous local builder. When that lease ran out in 1829, the chapel was brought within the parochial system.

During the Second World War, the chapel became a notable place of worship for members of the American armed forces, who were welcomed to the Chapel for their Sunday services. Following the War regular members of the congregation also included the writer Rose Macaulay and the poet laureate Sir John Betjeman, Poet Laureate from 1972 until his death in 1984.

For more, see http://grosvenorchapel.org.uk

2 comments:

  1. This was the location used for Keira Knightly's wedding scene in 'Love Actually'

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sadly, I haven't seen it, but it is certainly a worthy location.

    ReplyDelete