St Andrew’s Holborn
The current church of St Andrew’s Holborn sits on the foundations of a church founded during Saxon times in 951 and below that, on Roman remains. The church was subsequently rebuilt after the Black Death in 1349. Even though it survived the Great Fire of 1666, it was already severely dilapidated and the decision was made to rebuild the building to designs of Sir Christopher Wren; indeed it is his largest parish church. His work includes the refacing of the West tower which still contains the 14th century Gothic vault and windows.
The church is noted for its close association with Coram’s Foundling Hospital and, since the 1950s, still displays the organ case given by G F Handel. It is noted for many significant ceremonial events in its long history, including the christening of Benjamin Disraeli, aged 12, in 1817.
During the Blitz, it was gutted by fire on 7 May 1941, rebuilt during the 1950s (under the direction of the architects, John Seeley & Paul Paget) and reconsecrated in Oct 1961.
In 2010, further renovations were carried out and Luke Hughes was commissioned to provided 56 Charterhouse stacking pews, which allow a variety of seating arrangements for both liturgical and secular use.
In 2018, a further programme of renovation to equip the church for the next phase of its ministry. The church was redecorated, a new Purbeck stone floor was laid, a Lady Chapel and Baptistry were created. The church formally reopened in May 2019.
Luke Hughes is proud to continue to be associated with the church over the last twenty years, and to be working on additional liturgical pieces.
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