Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral

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The Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Divine Wisdom (Hagia Sophia) 

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Greek orthodox church in London, England

Address: Moscow Rd, Bayswater, London W2 4LQ

Phone: 020 7229 7260

Style: Byzantine Revival

Architect(s): John Oldrid Scott

Heritage designation: Grade I

The BYU Centre is only about a block away from this beautiful structure.  Only when there is a service are the doors of the building unlocked.  Yesterday when we were walking past the church, a service had just ended and people were leaving.  We snuck a quick look inside the door but there were still so many people in the chapel that we did not try to go inside. 

Today Earl passed the church and another meeting was in progress.  Although there were no people outside, he could hear the mass in progress.  

When we were in Paris, we went to an Italian restaurant and learned from our waiter that the Orthodox Church celebrates Easter a week later than the Roman  Catholic church.  We were not surprised that these special services were being held this weekend. 

St Sophia’s Cathedral in Bayswater, London W2

by CityWest Residential

Bayswater is thought of as one of London’s most cosmopolitan, diverse, and elegant districts. Bringing together the hustle and bustle of Queensway with some of the capital’s most elegant Garden Squares, there is plenty to see and do in the area. 

Built by London’s well established Greek community in 1879, the iconic St Sophia's Cathedral is well known for its magnificent structure and elaborate decor. 

The church was consecrated on the 5th of February 1882 by Antonios, Archbishop of Corfu and was intended to act as a place of worship for the Greek community that had established itself around the Paddington, Bayswater, and Notting Hill areas of London. 

Designed by respected architect John Oldrid Scott, the church has an impressive Byzantine Revival design. Although it appears relatively simple and modest from the outside, on the breath taking interior is decorated with intricate polychromatic marble designs. 

As well as being a place of worship, St Sophia’s also plays an integral and active role within the local community. In addition to weekly Saturday and Sunday services, the church also hosts a number of classes and performance groups that celebrate Greek culture, including a polyphonic choir and lively Byzantine music and dancing lessons. 

The choir, whose extensive history can be traced as far back as 1848, is well known in the Bayswater area and beyond, having made a number of TV appearances as well as visits to notable Orthodox Churches around the UK and further afield in mainland Europe. 

The church is also home to Saint Sophia’s Greek School, which prides itself in its work within the UK’s sizeable Greek community. A wide range of subjects are taught at the school, including Modern Greek Language and Literature, Greek Music, and Greek/Cypriot History - enabling pupils to discover the history and language of Greece.  Lessons are taught between 9.30am and 1.15pm every Saturday during term time. 

All of the signs on the building are in Greek which means the Greek alphabet.  I was hoping to find some information about the activities at the cathedral in the past few days and was surprised that the only information in English was that the only mass in English on the first Saturday of each month. Photos are from the Wikipedia link above.