St Margaret's Catholic Church

St Margaret's Road, East Twickenham TW1 1RL

This church is named for St Margaret, Queen of Scotland (1046-93), who was married to King Malcolm III. Among her many other virtues, she was a cultivated and educated woman (Malcolm himself could not read) who encouraged the arts and education.

The parish was initiated in 1930 as an offshoot of St Bridget's, Isleworth, and its first administrators were Mill Hill Missionaries. It was formally constituted as a parish in 1935 and, between then and the 1960s, when it became possible to finance the construction of a new church, Mass was said in a hut on the site. The church we know today was consecrated in 1969. English Heritage, impressed by its innovative design and use of materials, has designated it a Grade II Listed building. The design of the interior reflects the link between the liturgical services and the socially supportive side of church life, which means that the Richmond Concert Society can conduct the musical and social aspects of its concerts here within a single unified space.

St Mary's Church

Riverside, Twickenham TW1 3NJ

St Mary's has a medieval tower of Kentish ragstone and a Georgian brick nave, the latter built by John James of Greenwich in 1713, when the original, chronically neglected nave fell down. The rebuilding was initiated by one of the churchwardens, the court painter Sir Godfrey Kneller (1646-1723).

Among local notables commemorated in the church is the poet Alexander Pope. A brass tablet in the floor near the front row of pews marks the approximate location of his interment. His parents are celebrated by an elaborate memorial in the north gallery, while a tablet on the east wall (outside) touchingly records his gratitude to "a faithful old servant", his nurse, Mary Beach. During the 1720s the tea and coffee merchant Thomas Twining built Dial House behind the church; in 1890 the Twining family gave the house to the parish and it became the vicarage.

The church has a ring of eight bells, the oldest dating from before the Reformation. These are regularly rung, although we perhaps cannot expect a repeat of the event in 1749 when the Society of Twickenham Scholars rang "a complete peal of 6,000 changes". Less clangorously, the Society uses St Mary's for its string quartet concerts whenever possible and the church's acoustic has been highly praised by the quartets who have played here.

All Hallows Church

Erncroft Way, Twickenham TW1 1EW

All Hallows has stood on the Chertsey Road in Twickenham since 1940, but its history stretches back to Saxon times. The original All Hallows was on Lombard Street in the City of London, on a site where Christian worship dates back to 1053. The church was rebuilt twice before being destroyed by the Great Fire of London in 1666. Sir Christopher Wren was the architect of the new All Hallows which was completed in 1694. Just before the Second World War, structural defects were discovered and the authorities decided to rebuild the beautiful tower, stone by stone, on the current site and also build a new church, to house all of its wonderful carved wooden interior fittings. Robert Atkinson designed the church and also the beautiful cloister which links it to the bell tower. The tower houses a peal of ten bells cast by Richard Phelps, which came from the original church, as well as a rare carved oak Royal Arms dating back to Charles II. The Harris organ, built in 1708, has been renovated several times, but was finally electrified in 1984.

The Chapel Royal

Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey KT8 9AU

For several centuries, from the Baptism of Edward VI at Hampton Court in 1537, the historic royal palace and its chapel have been part of a proud musical heritage. The Chapel Royal is a body of priests and singers who serve the spiritual needs of the Sovereign. It has been called “the cradle of English church music”, since its great musicians of the past set an example in style of composition and performance that was copied by cathedrals, churches and chapels throughout the land. They include Thomas Tallis, William Byrd, Thomas Morley, Henry Purcell, and also Pelham Humfrey and John Blow, both of whom lived in Hampton.

The Live Room

Whitton Road, Twickenham TW1 1DZ

The Live Room is situated in Twickenham Rugby Stadium’s new state-of-the-art South Stand development, Rugby House. The Rugby Football Union’s choice of the word “room” for its new multi-million pound performing arts and conference centre perhaps does the auditorium less than justice, since it contains 400 tiered seats and a stage which can be adapted to suit all manner of performing groups, and there is access to a large foyer with bar and restaurant facilities. The RFU’s promise that the Live Room would be made occasionally available to local outside organisations is being satisfyingly fulfilled. RCS members should note that the usual “in-house” provision of wine and juice at moderate prices will not be available at this venue.