Welcome to St Helen's Church

The story so far: a brief history of St Helen's Church

St Helen's Church was first dedicated on 15 January 1884. It was built at a time when many houses and other churches were being built in the area.
The first vicar of St Helen's, Rev. Arthur Dalgarno Robinson, founded both St Clement's and St Helen's. He also established a ragged school for children of the nearby potteries. He died in the parsonage, North Pole Road, in 1899 having been vicar of St Clement's for 40 years. Dalgarno Gardens and Dalgarno Way were named after him. In her history of the area, Barbara Denny writes of him, `During the whole of his first 7 years in the parish, he worked without pay & was held in great affection by poverty-stricken families in the squalid alleys & streets of the area'. (Notting Hill & Holland Park Past, p 71)

St Helen's Church was hit by a Flying bomb in World War Two, It was rebuilt and then rededicated on 6 July 1956. It was united with Holy Trinity, Kensington (now the Harrow Club) in 1951.

The church has developed a strong tradition for children's and youth work. Guides & Scouts have met here for many years. The Boys Brigade came here in 1987.

In April 2000, the parish boundary was extended to include the Dalgarno Estate with St Francis Mission Chapel and St Francis House. Then, in 2002, Bassett House School re-ordered the hall and started renting it in school hours.

We have close links with many churches, both Church of England and other denominations.