IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Portsmouth Road, KINGSTON UPON THAMES, KT1 2NA

This information about St Raphael’s Catholic Church is taken from an information board on Queen’s Promenade provided by the Royal Borough of Kingston: "St Raphael’s Catholic Church was designed by architect Charles Parker for Mr Alexander Raphael and completed in a Victorian Italian-style in 1848. The benefactor had vowed to the Virgin Mary that he would build a church if she would allow him to recover from an illness. However, the opening was delayed when he had a dream that prophesied his death soon after consecration. Several appointments were made with the Bishop (and broken) before an oversight meant that the Bishop arrived and was let into the church by Mr Raphael’s butler to perform the ceremony. The butler was sacked, but Mr Raphael duly died within a few months. His remains lie beneath the high altar." The church is seen here from a bank above Queen's Promenade, looking across Portsmouth Road.

From the Thames Path

A poor view from this direction because of the trees, a common problem with churches. In this case they are not on church property, but this side of the road following the river.

Turk's paddle steamer on the Thames between Thames Ditton and Kingston. Its two funnels, near the bow, are lowered forwards to permit safe passage below bridges.

The church was designed by architect Charles Parker in Italianate style, with early Christian and Renaissance influences. The cost was met by Alexander Raphael, a Catholic Armenian whose family came from India. He became the first Roman Catholic to be elected Sheriff of London after the passing of the Catholic Emancipation Act in 1829. Raphael built the Church in 1846 as a family chapel and named it after St Raphael. It was completed in 1848. He died in November 1850.

This information about St Raphael’s Catholic Church is taken from an information board on Queen’s Promenade provided by the Royal Borough of Kingston: "St Raphael’s Catholic Church was designed by architect Charles Parker for Mr Alexander Raphael and completed in a Victorian Italian-style in 1848. The benefactor had vowed to the Virgin Mary that he would build a church if she would allow him to recover from an illness. However, the opening was delayed when he had a dream that prophesied his death soon after consecration. Several appointments were made with the Bishop (and broken) before an oversight meant that the Bishop arrived and was let into the church by Mr Raphael’s butler to perform the ceremony. The butler was sacked, but Mr Raphael duly died within a few months. His remains lie beneath the high altar." The church is seen here from a bank above Queen's Promenade, looking across Portsmouth Road.

The tower of St Raphael's church in Kingston viewed from the Thames Path.

Taken from the Thames Path on the opposite bank, St Raphael's church is on the true right bank of the river. This would normally be regarded as the south bank, although at this particular spot the river is flowing north and the church is to the east.

RC parish church on Portsmouth Road. Built 1847-8, Grade II* listed by Historic England: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1080045

Taken from the river opposite