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

Italianate church by the River Thames - with a "yellow submarine" moored on the Queen's Promenade.

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.

Recently redone and looking smart.

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

Website: http://www.straphael.org.uk/

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.

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

From the Thames path looking across to St Raphael's Church to the right and the Territorial Army centre to the left

Taken from the river opposite