Chelsea Old Church, also called All Saints, is an Anglican church at 64 Cheyne Walk on the Thames in Chelsea. Its medieval chapels and 1670 tower tell part of the building’s long history, while inside, salvaged Tudor tombs, memorials and fragments of 16th-century stained glass show the care taken in its postwar restoration. Look for the Hans Sloane memorial in the garden, with its entwined serpents, and the statue of Thomas More outside.
A church shaped by centuries
Chelsea Old Church, also known as All Saints, was once the parish church of Chelsea village. The building before the Second World War included a chancel probably dating to the 13th century, chapels added around 1325, and a nave and tower built in 1670. A cupola was removed in 1815; the weather vane remains.
The north chapel, now called the Lawrence Chapel, belonged to the Lord of the Manor of Chelsea. The arch between the chancel and chapel reproduces a 14th-century original. That earlier arch collapsed in 1784 and was only partly restored.
Restoration and memorials
Bombing in 1941 devastated the church. It was rebuilt on its original footprint and reopened in 1950, with salvaged tombs, memorials and other historic material carefully restored. Inside, look for Tudor-era monuments and surviving panels of 16th-century stained glass. The building is also associated with Thomas More, whose statue stands outside.
In the garden, the Hans Sloane memorial is marked by entwined serpents and a large egg. The church remains an active place of worship, with services including Vespers and Midnight Mass.
Preguntas frecuentes
Where is Chelsea Old Church?
It is at 64 Cheyne Walk, London, SW3 5LT, beside the Thames in Chelsea.
What can you see inside Chelsea Old Church?
The church has Tudor-era tombs and memorials, restored historic fabric and surviving panels of 16th-century stained glass. It also contains the Lawrence Chapel.
Is Chelsea Old Church accessible?
The church has a wheelchair-accessible entrance.
