The 1800s

All Souls Church is unique as the last surviving church built by John Nash, who also developed nearby Regent's Park and Regent Street.

It was completed in December 1823 at a final cost of £18,323-10s-5d, and opened in November 1824.

The church is built of Bath stone. The winged heads of the cherubs on the external Corinthian columns are based on a design by Michaelangelo.

At the front of the church is the immense painting by Richard Westall, drawing master to Queen Victoria, presented by King George IV on completion of the building. Entitled 'Ecco Homo' - Behold the Man - it portrays Christ in the hands of his enemies. In spite of being a prisoner, it is He who is most calm and in control.

Nash's design, with its peculiar combination of Gothic spire and classical rotunda, was not at first universally admired. In March 1824, during a House of Commons debate, an MP criticised Nash for designing "this deplorable and horrible object.". After this speech, one press cartoon, depicting Nash impaled on this spire, referred to All Souls as "an extinguisher on a flat candlestick."

The 1900s>>