> Events > 3rd Annual Russian 'Old New Year' Gala Dinner > Support of the Russian Orthodox Cathedral
In support of the Russian Orthodox Cathedral of the Dormition of the Most-Holy Mother of God and Holy Royal Martyrs
A proportion of the funds raised at the ‘Old New Year’ Gala Dinner, dedicated to the third annual Russian Winter Festival, will go towards the reconstruction of the Upper Church of the Russian Orthodox Cathedral of the Dormition of the Most-Holy Mother of God and Holy Royal Martyrs, London. The Russian Orthodox Church in Great Britain has a very rich history that dates back centuries. Below you will find information on the history and development of the Russian Orthodox Church in the UK and also on the contemporary presence and activities of the Russian Orthodox Cathedral of the Dormition of the Most-Holy Mother of God and Holy Royal Martyrs, London. Further information is available on how to get involved in raising funds for the reconstruction of the Upper Church of the Cathedral.
History of the Parish.
Although early records about the Russian Orthodox Church are neither extensive nor very clear, it is known that by the end of the 18th century there was already a Russian Orthodox Parish connected to the Russian Embassy.
It is also known that a priest travelled from London to Portsmouth in order to meet Russian soldiers who had joined the English armed forces during the Napoleonic wars and who were injured and brought back to England. The war dead were buried by him in Portsmouth cemetery.
As Russian society in England in the 19th century was not large, the Embassy church would easily have afforded sufficient spiritual guidance for everyone requiring it in the London area.
After the revolution of 1917, most Russian refugees fled towards France. A few Russian families – those who had relatives here - settled in the UK. Nonetheless, the Embassy Church was closed as a result the antireligious’ politics of the communistic government.
In 1929 the Church of England made the Russian community in London an offer to rent space at St. Phillip’s Church on Buckingham Palace Road. In 1932, a house was acquired at Barons Court for His Eminence Nikolai, Bishop to Great Britain and one floor was transformed into a small chapel.
In 1954 however, St.Phillip’s Church was destroyed to make way for the construction of Victoria Coach Station. After many years of trying, the Parish was finally able to re-establish itself in St.Steven’s Church at Empress Gate on Gloucester Road that belonged to the Scottish Presbyterian Church. Here the Russian community were offered a place to lay their spiritual heads for the ensuing 30 years, during which time it has grown substantially.
This 30 year period came to an end in 1989 and the decision was made that it was time for the Russian Orthodox parish to finally construct a church of its own in the Russian style with a traditional dome and a bell-tower. In 1992 a suitable piece of land was found in Chiswick, West London, - a big house on 1968 square meters of land.
A big hall was built onto the building to house a temporary place of worship and other rooms on the first floor were converted for use as a dining area and for the needs of curacy. The second floor apartment was renovated for the priest and his family.
On November 27, 1997 the first stone of the New Russian Cathedral was laid and the first sacred worship took place on the Saturday before Palm Sunday, 1999. Since then the church has received its crowning dome complete with gold roof, and the lower level and baptistery has been finished and the ventilation assembled. On 29 May 2005 the Supreme Head of the Russian Foreign Church, Metropolitan Lavr together with other Holy Fathers consecrated Britain’s first Russian Orthodox Church in honour of the Holy Royal Martyrs.
At the end of the summer 2005 the construction work on the Upper Church began. The walls have already been plastered, cables laid and electricity provided. The under floor heating will be assembled in January.
By the end of the construction work, the only thing left to do will be the provision of urban amenities, the completion of the fresco and assembly of the iconostasis, chandelier and other necessary holly vessels. The Church’s advisory board is also planning the construction of a bell tower.
Today the church has its own Saturday school where children learn the Holy Bible, Russian language and literature, the basics of singing in a church choir and the rudiments of history and geography. On Sundays and holidays parish lunches are prepared where people get the chance to meet each other outside of services to get to know each other.
All those wishing to contribute to the development of the new cathedral are asked to help by purchasing any of the aforementioned items. The name of contributors will be perpetuated in the architectural ensemble of the cathedral. In addition and more importantly, all contributors will be remembered in prayer for as long as the church remains standing.
ADDRESS
"Russian Orthodox Cathedral of the Dormition of the Most-Holy Mother of God and Holy Royal Martyrs",
57 Harvard Road
Chiswick
London
W4 4ED
BANK ACCOUNT DETAILS FOR DONATIONS
Bank Name
HSBC
Address
90 Baker Street
London
W1U 6AX
Sort Code
40 – 05 – 30
Account Numbers
02329549 – Treasurers Account Restricted Funds
42115395 – Building Account Restricted Funds
71626965 – Treasurers Account Unrestricted Funds
73221849 – Endowment Capital Account
42554437 – Reserve Account
