Brompton Oratory

About

Brompton Oratory, also known as the London Oratory, is a Catholic parish church in the Brompton area of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London. Its name stems from the Oratorians, who live next door in the Oratory House and service the parish. The formal title of the church is the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Mass is celebrated daily by the Oratorians in both the Ordinary and Extraordinary forms. The church was consecrated in 1884 and is built in the Neo-Baroque style and consists of a three-bay nave, transepts, and an apsed chancel with a dome over the crossing. It is listed at grade II* for its architectural significance.

Due to its location and character, the church attracts expatriate worshippers and visitors from many countries. After World War II, it temporarily hosted the parish of the Polish diaspora in London. The church has a reputation for the quality of its liturgical music and the notable musicians who perform there, among them the late Ralph Downes.

There are three choirs at the church. The London Oratory School in the nearby London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham is closely connected to the church, having been founded by the Oratorians.