Cardinal Nichols celebrates Farm Street’s 175-year role in British Catholicism

A Solemn Mass celebrated by Cardinal Vincent Nichols on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady rounded off a year of Jubilee celebrations marking 175 years since the famous London church was opened by the Jesuits in Britain.

The special Mass at Farm Street Church on 9 December included music by composers Luca Uggias, Christopher Walker and Eric Thiman, and was accompanied by a trumpet concerto (Vivaldi’s only solo work to include brass instruments) and a choir singing hymns.

“This was a wonderful celebration of thanksgiving for all that Farm Street has been about throughout 175 years as a place of welcome and oasis of prayer in the centre of the city,” says Fr Dominic Robinson SJ, the parish priest at Farm Street Church.

“We have given thanks throughout this jubilee year for how so many have embraced the Catholic faith, returned to the Church, where Catholic artists, writers and musicians have flourished, and where we have reached out to the poorest who are so much at the heart of the Farm Street family.”

In his homily, Cardinal Nichols noted the “wonderful words” of the hymn “Holy Light on Earth’s Horizon” by Fr Edward Caswall that was published in 1849, 175 years ago, and how they serve as a fitting tribute to the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady.

“These words, along with this church, have lost nothing of their rich appeal which today we embrace afresh,” said the cardinal, quoting the hymn’s lines and its appeal to a “Holy light on earth’s horizon” and a “Star of hope to fallen man”.

He added: “Today we remember that Mary, the one conceived without the stain of original sin, is truly the woman of Advent, the one who teaches us how to wait for, expect, the coming of the Lord into our lives. We can learn from her today.”

Farm Street’s Jubilee 175 celebrations commenced on 8th December 2023, with a Solemn Mass celebrated by His Excellency Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendía, Apostolic Nuncio to the Court of St James’s.

The celebrations during 2024 included an exhibition on the history of Farm Street Church, arranged by the British Jesuit Archives, a fundraising concert by pianist Bobby Chen, an ecumenical pilgrimage to Canterbury, a morning visit by the Household Cavalry, and a Jubilee Ball at the Savile Club.

To also mark the year, the team at Farm Street launched an anniversary campaign to raise £175,000 to help fund several important parish projects. That goal was exceeded with a total of £200,000 raised and which will be divided between the following projects:

•  Refurbishment of the wooden floor of the church

•  Essential repair work to the roof of the church building

•  Continuing reduction of the parish deficit

•  Support of Catholic Listeners, a confidential helpline service initiated by the Westminster Diocese

•  Ongoing charitable works of the parish and other capital expenses

Fr Dominic commented on the success of the fundraising effort: “A jubilee is more than giving thanks. It has been a time for renewal of our mission and the incredible £200,000 raised will be used well as we look forward to carrying out our mission with new resolve and inspiration in the years to come.”

Farm Street Church opened its doors on 31 July 1849, on the Solemnity of Saint Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits).

RELATED: Both English and cosmopolitan: the glory of Farm Street Church

(Photos courtesy of the Diocese of Westminster.)

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