Stories

From 1601 until 1824 the parish church was responsible for looking after the poor, Chelsea had its own workhouse opened in 1737. The parish collected a poor-rate tax from property owners, the local church vestries increasingly took charge of civilian matters, they administered justice and appointed a constable called the Beadle to enforce rulings. A […] Find Out More

Annigoni donated a self portrait to Chelsea Old Church, so what is the connection between Annigoni, an Italian artist, and the Church? A long queue waited the opening of the Summer Fair at Chenil Galleries in aid of Chelsea Old Church building appeal. The Mayor and Mayoress of Chelsea opened the Fair, “the parishes of […] Find Out More

Pop in on the Chelsea Old Church bellringers for an Open Day onSunday, 28th September between 2.30pm – 4.30pm.Fun, friendly and a great workout for body, mind and spirit.You may want to join us to learn weekly from a master ringer how toring historic tower bells. No experience needed and open to anyone over 18. […] Find Out More

This excerpt from Chelsea author Reginald Blunt’s book ‘Red Anchor Pieces’, published in 1928, describes the lively tavern scene that existed in Chelsea over the centuries: ‘A succession of at least 15 taverns along the riverside from Battersea Bridge to the Royal Hospital seems really more than adequate, when we look up the records; the […] Find Out More

“My dear More… but here’s the first problem. How do I address you? Sir Thomas? St Thomas? Lord Chancellor? I can’t just call you Thomas. Half the men in England are called that. Anyway, I don’t feel that kind of easy warmth, though one of your modern biographers says that most people who work with […] Find Out More

Before Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press in the mid-15th century texts were, of course, copied by hand. Various cultures experimented with material like wax, clay, bamboo, and even bone to record written material. Papermaking appears to have come out of China, traditionally the invention of a Han Dynasty eunuch named Cai Lun. Paper made […] Find Out More

However, the corner house, No. 64, was opened as a restaurant under the name of The Good Intent, a haunt of Chelsea artists particularly during the mid-20th century, including figures like Francis Bacon, Lucian Freud, Michael Andrews, and Frank Auerbach who were all known to frequent the pub while living and working in Chelsea.  64 […] Find Out More

Richard Stewart Jones, honorary secretary of the Chelsea Society, was very active in overcoming the decision not to rebuild. ‘But as War Damage Funds were allocated to Churches with parishes. Before the war the Old Church was not a Parish Church. There was never any doubt in the minds of anybody connected with the Old […] Find Out More

A story ran round Chelsea that Sir Thomas More’s ghost had been seen to emerge from his south wall monument and, crossing the sanctuary, disappear into the opposite wall. The figure was unquestionably that of the Chancellor, for besides being quaintly dressed, it was without a head-which clinchedthe matter. This news soon brought half London […] Find Out More

Where We Are Where the Bishop of London entertained Elizabeth I, Pink Floyd recorded Arnold Layne, and visitors to Chelsea Old Church believed they saw the ghost of Thomas More. The Anglo-Saxon settlement by the church and the river remained the heart of the only known area of settlement in Chelsea until the 17th century. […] Find Out More