Stories

The church relaunched the choir in 2024 with a new programme of Choral Scholarships, attracting many new children from a variety of local schools. We now have a waiting list. This programme costs £15,840 annually to run, and we are looking for sponsors who would be willing to help us continue to reach out into […] Find Out More

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

The parish has a strong tradition of choral singing with both a professional choir and a children’s choir (see choral scholarships below). The professional choir leads the singing each week (except during August) at the 11.00am Mattins and Parish Communion (first Sunday of the month) services. Comprised of highly experienced singers from across London, it […] 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

The rock star Bill Wyman, of The Rolling Stones, 86, looks back on his ‘bizarre life’ as he strolls around Chelsea, his sixties stomping ground, present home and the subject of his new book. ‘Here is the memorial to Sir Thomas More’ says the local history expert, who is taking a walking tour of Chelsea, […] 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

The Vicar of the Thames-side Chelsea Old Church, in Cheyne Walk, Canon David Reindorp, said on Tuesday that his congregation had increased by more than 20 per cent since he arrived in 2006, partly owing to the continued use of the Book of Common Prayer. “Our worshippers do not describe themselves as zealots of the […] Find Out More