London: Celebration of St Ignatius Loyola at Farm Street Church

Statue of St Ignatius Loyola at Farm Street

Source: Jesuit Media

The Solemnity of St Ignatius will be celebrated at Farm Street Church (W1K 3AH) with a Solemn Pontifical Mass of Thanksgiving on 31 July at 6pm.

The Church of the Immaculate Conception in Mayfair, widely known as Farm Street Church, warmly invites everyone to a Solemn Mass in honour of St Ignatius Loyola on Wednesday, 31st July.

This special evening Mass will celebrate both St Ignatius Day and the 175th anniversary of the church's opening on 31 July 1849.

The service will start at 6pm, with Bishop Nicholas Hudson serving as the principal celebrant. Fr Paul Nicholson SJ will deliver the homily, joined by several Jesuit celebrants. The occasion will include an additional reading, a special preface honouring St Ignatius, and a distinctive solemn blessing, all adding to the significance and reverence of the event.

For those who cannot attend in person, the Mass will be live streamed here.

The celebration will also feature an uplifting musical programme with performances by the Farm Street Choir, a trumpeter, and the church's organist. Key highlights include the blessing and inaugural use of a new processional cross, the ceremonial lighting of the St Ignatius statue on the left side of the altar, and the grand finale: the Te Deum, a powerful hymn of praise and thanksgiving.

A novena in honour of St Ignatius began on 22 July and will conclude on 30 July. The Church extends heartfelt thanks to everyone who has joined in this period of prayer and reflection.

Jubilee 175

This Solemn Mass is part of Farm Street Church's Jubilee 175 celebrations. The church first opened its doors on 31st July 1849, the Solemnity of Saint Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits).

An anniversary campaign has been launched to support the church's refurbishment and repairs, charitable work, and the Catholic Listeners project. Those who wish to contribute can make a donation here.

Contributions made before 1st July will be acknowledged in the order of service for the 31 July Mass, while donations received after this date will be recognised during the patronal feast in December. Donors may choose to remain anonymous.

For more information about the Jubilee celebrations and the fundraising campaign, please visit Jubilee 175 - Farm Street Church.