Heritage Lottery Fund

With the help of the Heritage Lottery Fund (“HLF”), St Katharine’s, the Danish Church in London, is undergoing substantial refurbishment work to restore this magnificent Grade II* listed building.

HLF uses money raised by National Lottery players to help restore and protect heritage assets so that we, as a community, can come together to share both their past and their future, for generations to come.

Built in 1828, the Church can trace its heritage back to the days when it was the Anglican chapel for the Royal Hospital of St Katharine. Not your typical hospital, St Katharine’s provided spiritual and physical care for the poor. In 1952, the Church was leased to the Danish community and is currently used as a Lutheran church, serving approximately 30,000 Danes. The Church has always been an integral part of the community and to this day, it continues to contribute through religious, social and educational service not only to Danes, but anyone interested in the Danish language and culture.

The main aim of the current project is to restore the stonework on the Church’s west elevation and parts of the north and south façade, which are in a poor state of repair.

The Church was designed by the famous 19th century English architect, Ambrose Poynter. It is a handsome example of palladian-gothic style, a combination of Venetian-inspired design and the gothic European style, which is so often seen in ecclesiastical and university structures.

Over the years, the Church’s stonework has suffered from erosion and decay from weathering and water ingress. Not only does this impact on its aesthetic effect, but more importantly it is now posing a structural danger.

Through an intensive and sensitive program of restoration, the masonry will first be opened up to allow for diagnostic work to take place. Decaying cramps (metal frames to restrain masonry) will be replaced, worn stonework will be repaired using mortar to compliment the Bath stone and repointing work will be carried out to all open joints. The stonework will then be cleaned using a steam-based cleaning system.

The works are anticipated to complete in late autumn this year. We are very excited about what these works mean to the Church and its place in the community as a building of special historical significance.

We invite you to keep up to date with the progress of this special and exciting project online at www.danskekirke.org.