On the right side of the Brompton Oratory is an avenue of lime trees leading back to the parish church of the district, Holy Trinity, Brompton. The building is a mellow Gothic-revival structure with a clock tower at the west end. If one proceeds around the west end a lovely park comes into view, once the old burial ground (tombstones and remains removed in 1954), and a pathway leads along under the trees to a typical country church gate. This gate was originally built on the Brompton Road side but was placed on the north boundary in 1908.
Holy Trinity, Brompton, was consecrated in 1829 to serve a parish which at that time ran as far west as Earl’s Court. It could seat 1,505 people (899 of whom rented pews), and seems to have been considered more utilitarian than beautiful. Numerous changes and improvements have been made over the years, however, including the addition of a chancel in 1879. The interior now presents an attractive appearance with a five-bay clerestoried nave, a gallery above, and a broad chancel with marble steps, at the rear of which is a striking gold mosaic reredos (made in Italy and installed in 1885). Today this former country church is full of life and vitality, serving a large congregation in the heart of crowded and fashionable southwest London. The old crypt has been made into modern meeting halls, offices and a bookshop, and it can be entered on ground level through glass doors on the northwest. Overflow facilities are sometimes used when the 1,100 capacity is exceeded for services on Sunday mornings and there is also a well-attended Sunday evening service and activities throughout the week (including an outreach to the poor and homeless in the area).
The world-famous Alpha Course, an evangelistic programme incorporating table-based conversation, was pioneered here under the leadership of Nicky Gumbel (then Curate, now Vicar of the church). Over 24 million are said to have taken the course in over 100 countries. Holy Trinity, Brompton, is united with the newly opened St Paul’s, Onslow Square, and also with St Barnabas, Kensington and St Marks, Battersea Rise; and has been instrumental in the reinvigoration of many Anglican churches throughout the country.