History of Kilburn and West Hampstead

Kilburn and West Hampstead were once home to many churches and chapels. House building increased dramatically during the late nineteenth century at a time when attending a place of worship was mandatory for most people. Some were already committed to a faith but there was fierce competition between the denominations to persuade undecided residents to attend their services. A charismatic minister such as the Rev. Richard Kilpatrick at the impressive St Augustine’s Church in Kilburn Park Road, attracted huge numbers of worshippers. People moved between churches and sometimes between faiths while a developing neighbourhood encouraged non-conformist faiths to extend their influence, by building new places of worship. But this was expensive and a major role for all ministers was to fund raise and reduce construction debts. Many of the religious buildings have been demolished, redeveloped, or repurposed but the story behind why and when they were built is not always well documented. Nor is t...