Brompton Oratory

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The Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, popularly but incorrectly known as the Brompton Oratory, is a church in South Kensington, London. It is situated on Brompton Road, next to the Victoria and Albert Museum, at the junction with Cromwell Gardens.

Designed by Herbert Gribble, and consecrated April 16, 1884, it stands 200 ft tall and is the second largest Roman Catholic church in London, after Westminster Cathedral.

Italian Renaissance in style, it has marble columns and altar rails, a huge vaulted dome, mosaics, and carvings in wood and stone. In addition, it houses 12 statues of the apostles by Mazzuoli (1644–1725).

The Church belongs to and is served by the Congregation of the London Oratory (see London Oratory). There are two other Oratories in the UK, the Birmingham Oratory and the Oxford Oratory.

It has strong ties with the nearby London Oratory School, and serves as its 'official' church for all holy days of obligation.

In 1865 Stéphane Mallarmé married Marie Gerhard in Brompton Oratory. In 1889 Edward Elgar married Alice Roberts there. In 1891, Ernest Dowson officially became a Catholic at the church. In 1918 Matyla Ghyka married Eileen O'Conor there. In 1926, Alfred Hitchcock married Alma Reville there.

Liturgy

The Oratorian Fathers emphasise the liturgy. Mass is celebrated every day in Latin in both the Novus Ordo and Tridentine rites. Several priests from the Oratory attended the 2005 World Youth Day with Juventutem, a traditionalist Catholic youth group.

External links

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Last updated on Saturday May 31, 2008 at 14:14:55 PDT (GMT -0700)
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