All Hallows Twickenham

All Hallows Twickenham stands beside the busy Chertsey Road in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is a Grade I listed church of the Church of England, built around the tower of the former All Hallows Lombard Street in the City of London. The stone tower, bells and cloister were moved here after the City church was demolished in 1937. The mission began in 1914 as St Martin’s Chapel on Whitton Road, later replaced to make way for the new building. In 1933 the parish gained its own priest, Harold Schofield, who became its first vicar. The church was designed by Robert Atkinson using Wren’s uncompleted plans for the Lombard Street church. The church is a brick-built basilica with a narthex leading to the old tower on the north side and St Martin’s Chapel on the south. Inside the Wren-designed tower hangs a peal of ten bells, some originally from St Dionis Backchurch. A massive oak gateway, decorated with skulls and crossbones, is preserved at the tower’s entrance. Much of the carved woodwork shows traces of Grinling Gibbons’ style, and the great reredos is believed to be his work. The altar, pews, pulpit and organ all came from earlier churches, including a 1695 organ by Renatus Harris. John Wesley once preached from the pulpit in 1789. Visitors find a quiet place of worship with fine woodwork and historic fittings. The reredos shows a carved pelican feeding her young, a traditional image of Christ. Behind the choir stalls are sword rests for the Lord Mayor’s ceremonial sword. The baptismal font, with a wooden cover topped by Charity welcoming children, came from St Benet Gracechurch. The 1960s hall beside the church serves the local community. Daily prayers and weekly services continue the church’s tradition of worship and welcome.