This Grade II* listed church occupies a
site on Bryanston Street at the corner with Old
Quebec Strret not far from Marble Arch.
The church's website says that, "A place
of worship has existed on the site of the
present church since 1787 when a Chapel of
Ease was built by Lord Portman. It was named
the Quebec Chapel after the street in which
it stood. Whether the street was named after
General Wolfe capturing the city of Quebec
in 1759 or the defeat of the Americans as
they tried to capture Quebec in 1775 is
unclear. ..... The inspiration behind the
new building was the Revd Bernard Day
Douglas Shaw. Walter Tapper (1861-1935) was
chosen as the architect. Tapper was an
authority on church architecture. He was a
Royal Academician, a Fellow of the Society
of Antiquaries and President of the Royal
Institute of Architects. In 1928 he became
Surveyor to the Fabric of Westminster Abbey
where he is buried." The
website adds that, "...The
Annunciation is a dramatic building in a
fascinating and fast changing part of
London. Pevsner notes that to enter the
Annunciation is to have stumbled upon 'a
fragment of a major medieval church'."
The description of the
church at the time it was listed said that
it featured, "... Red brick with
stone dressings, slate roof. Late Gothic
Revival with strong vertical emphasis;
bold simplicity in balance of blind wall
place to windows and restrained use of
carved ornament."
The church website says that, "The
high altar reredos was designed by
Tapper and executed by J.C. Bewsey
(1880-1940). Bewsey also designed the
stained glass."
"The Rood supporting Christ on the
Cross flanked by the Blessed Virgin Mary
and St John is in the shape of the
rainbow, a symbol of the covenant
between God and creation."
The Stations of the
Cross are by Alois de Beule of Ghent
(1861-1935). They are plaster casts of
originals in wood.
