St Cyprians Church

Ninian Comper was perhaps the greatest architect of the Gothic Revival, which swept England in the 19^th and early 20^th centuries. His trademark is the confident deployment of colour and the intelligent incorporation of Classical and Gothic architectural styles. St Cyprian’s in Clarence Gate, near Baker Street, was built in 1903 and is among his masterpieces.
The chancel screen and stained glass are superlative; the sanctuary roof is breathtaking. But the heart of all of Comper’s work was the altar. Here it features scenes of the Garden of Eden and the Tree of Life rendered in paint, gesso and gilding.
Comper viewed his work as embodying Christian values and saw architectural theory and practice as secondary to the principles of the Anglo-​Catholic church. Whether you are a devout practitioner or a determined atheist, the beauty and power of this building ought to move you.
You’ll have to plan ahead if you want to visit — the church is open only at Mass times on Thursdays from 11.30am 2pm and on Sunday mornings from 9.30am. It’s worth the effort.