St Dominic's Priory Church

St Dominic's Priory Church, Camden, London NW5 4LB showing the east elevation (inset - closeup of notice board)

St Dominic's Priory Church (formally named "Our Lady of the Rosary and St Dominic") between Hampstead and Camden Town, London NW5 4LB, is one of the largest Roman Catholic churches in London. The church is a Grade II* listed building.

Location

The church and priory are in Southampton Road just south of Hampstead Heath and close to Belsize Park. The nearest stations are Belsize Park and Chalk Farm tube stations both on the Northern line Edgware branch, and Hampstead Heath railway station and Gospel Oak railway stations on London Overground, all about 15 minutes walk away.

History

The Dominican Friars came to the area in 1861 with a community of Friars in the Priory, a community of Dominican Sisters nearby in Constantine Road and a group of Lay Dominicans who meet each month at the Priory.

The priory was opened in 1867 and the Priory Church dates from 1883. The church was opened largely thanks to Countess Tasker, its great benefactress. The road leading down to the Priory (Tasker Road) was named in her memory.

The Priory Church is still named Our Lady of the Rosary and Saint Dominic, as the current notice board makes clear. During the 1990s the Traditional Catholic Mass (in the Roman Rite, rather than the Dominican Rite) was re-established at St. Dominic's at 11.15 am every Sunday. This was by request of the late Cardinal Hume. It was supported every Sunday by 100 or more people, including choir and servers.

Design

The design is based on the structure of the Rosary prayer. It was built by Charles Alban Buckler (1824-1905), the son of John Chessell Buckler who designed numerous churches of which this was probably his best.

Community

Both friars and sisters serve a large parish community, with a weekend attendance of about 900 men, women and children. Friars and sisters are also engaged in a wide range of local social activity including hospital, university and school chaplaincy, adult education and third level teaching of theology, scripture and philosophy, publishing, post-graduate study, and preaching. It is also the residence of the Provincial of the Dominican friars in England and Scotland. Next to the church is the RC primary school of St Dominic.

See also

• List of monastic houses in England
• List of monastic houses in London
• List of churches and cathedrals of London
• Westminster Cathedral
• Archdiocese of Westminster