A Short History—All Souls Parish Church
Harlesden was just a few big houses and farms until 1840 when the railway was built. Irish immigrants escaping famine in the 1840s came to Harlesden to build canals and railways. Harlesden grew slowly, but by 1870, streets of small houses for railway workers, laundries and bakeries started to appear.
The land around Harlesden Green, for the most part, was owned by the College of All Souls, Oxford, which was later to give its name to our Parish Church. In 1869, a temporary church was erected, and the Revd Henry Courtney Atwool, the first vicar, took over in 1873.
The church was built from designs by Edward John Tarver, seated 471. The octagon which crowns the centre of Ely Cathedral had just been restored, and the roof of our octagon was inspired by its superb craftsmanship and design. All Souls parish was formed in 1875 and stretched from Stonebridge to Kensal Green. On 26 April 1879, the Bishop of London consecrated the new church. This was a “high” church, with an elaborate and very prominent altar.
A few years later, a church school and Vicarage were built next to the church, and in 1890 the church itself was enlarged (to 800 seats) by a five-bay nave. In 1923, a large hall was built in Acton Lane (replaced by the County Court in 1965.) The present halls were built in 1966 on the site of the church schools, which were closed in 1932. Since 1965, the parish has had responsibility for John Keble School, Crownhill Road, which was founded by The Community of Sisters of the Church in 1886. In 1929, the church was redecorated, and the sanctuary panelled, but the first cracks in the nave were reported in 1934. By 1968, it was near collapse. The nave was replaced by a new west end, and the church was re-ordered in time for the centenary of its consecration in 1979.
The last major construction changes took place in 2007, when a large self-contained entrance foyer was built at the West End of the church.
Harlesden was just a few big houses and farms until 1840 when the railway was built. Irish immigrants escaping famine in the 1840s came to Harlesden to build canals and railways. Harlesden grew slowly, but by 1870, streets of small houses for railway workers, laundries and bakeries started to appear.
The land around Harlesden Green, for the most part, was owned by the College of All Souls, Oxford, which was later to give its name to our Parish Church. In 1869, a temporary church was erected, and the Revd Henry Courtney Atwool, the first vicar, took over in 1873.
The church was built from designs by Edward John Tarver, seated 471. The octagon which crowns the centre of Ely Cathedral had just been restored, and the roof of our octagon was inspired by its superb craftsmanship and design. All Souls parish was formed in 1875 and stretched from Stonebridge to Kensal Green. On 26 April 1879, the Bishop of London consecrated the new church. This was a “high” church, with an elaborate and very prominent altar.
A few years later, a church school and Vicarage were built next to the church, and in 1890 the church itself was enlarged (to 800 seats) by a five-bay nave. In 1923, a large hall was built in Acton Lane (replaced by the County Court in 1965.) The present halls were built in 1966 on the site of the church schools, which were closed in 1932. Since 1965, the parish has had responsibility for John Keble School, Crownhill Road, which was founded by The Community of Sisters of the Church in 1886. In 1929, the church was redecorated, and the sanctuary panelled, but the first cracks in the nave were reported in 1934. By 1968, it was near collapse. The nave was replaced by a new west end, and the church was re-ordered in time for the centenary of its consecration in 1979.
The last major construction changes took place in 2007, when a large self-contained entrance foyer was built at the West End of the church.
Inside the church, look out for:
The church is a large brick octagon – a plan associated more often at this date with Nonconformist churches. The exterior and plan derive from the Rhineland late Romanesque, not a common source. Sanctuary has a canted apse, with a dwarf gallery flanked by two turrets, the windows a mixture of round and pointed forms. The centre is stressed only by a conical little open iron lantern. The interior is still more exceptional: the exciting timber construction of its roof is worth a special visit. There are no internal supports; the massive tie beams meet in a centre star supported by arched braces springing from corbels. The beams are clasped by pairs of straight braces nearing the lantern.
- The magnificent Victorian roof and the carvings on the beams.
- The stained-glass windows.
- The organ built by Norman and Beard in 1903 and restored in 1994. It has nearly 2000 pipes.
- The panelling in the chapel and the icon of our Lady and child.
- A set of Stations of the Cross (installed clockwise instead of the usual anti-clockwise) and the statues. These came from the Roman Catholic Convent Chapel of th e Helpers of the Holy Souls and were donated to the church at the time of its centennial restoration.
- Christ Ascending – a golden figure high in the west end wall, probably by Martin Travers, and donated by Willesden Hospital.
The church is a large brick octagon – a plan associated more often at this date with Nonconformist churches. The exterior and plan derive from the Rhineland late Romanesque, not a common source. Sanctuary has a canted apse, with a dwarf gallery flanked by two turrets, the windows a mixture of round and pointed forms. The centre is stressed only by a conical little open iron lantern. The interior is still more exceptional: the exciting timber construction of its roof is worth a special visit. There are no internal supports; the massive tie beams meet in a centre star supported by arched braces springing from corbels. The beams are clasped by pairs of straight braces nearing the lantern.
