PARISH IN Focus: The Immaculate Conception, Farm Street, London W1

Where rich and poor meet
FARM STREET Jesuit Church, or the Church of the Immaculate Conception as it is formally known, is ensconced in Mayfair between the bustle of Oxford Street, Piccadilly and Park Lane. Built by the stables and coachman's quarters of what was then Hay Hill, it was the first Jesuit church in London. It was designed by the architect JJ Scoles in the 1840s in an imposing Neo-Gothic style.
The construction of a Jesuit church which would seat 900 people was not only ambitious but also extremely optimistic at a period when penal times where still fresh in most peoples' minds (Catholic emancipation had only been achieved in 1829). However, their faith has been well placed (as many trying to get into Midnight Mass will attest).
To this day Farm Street retains a certain kudos amongst Catholics interested in 'High Society'; since the Fifties when Evelyn Waugh and Clarissa Churchill (who later married Anthony Eden) worshipped there regularly. However, Mayfair has been overtaken by commerce and the smart residential houses have now largely become offices.
Fr Michael Beattie, Superior and parish priest at Farm Street, says that although relatively few Catholics remain residential in the area, they still have five Masses a day which which are very popular with people working commercially there; lunchtime Mass is always popular.
During Days of Obligation the church is packed out and if you look around you might catch a glimpse of actor Alec Guinness or Raine Spencer, the stepmother of Princess Diana. However, high profile communicants are not the only interesting aspect of Farm Street's parish life. The church has its own branch of the Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) , which offers help to the poor and the homeless, as well as a Jesuit Refugee Service Support Group which raises funds for East Africa.
The Jesuit Fathers and brothers live adjacent to the church at number 114 Mount Street where their religious instruction and marital preparation forms an important aspect of this parish between 60 and 80 marriages are celebrated at Farm Street every year.
Their residence also houses the offices of the Jesuit magazines The Month and The Way as well as the Conference of Religious which deals with consecrated life. The community there also includes the Head of Heythrop College as well as the Chaplain to the Latvians . There is a constant flow of visitors to the residence as Jesuits from all over the world come to stay; it is very much an international house.
The polyglot nature of the Jesuit community is also part of its parish life. There is a thriving Czech community in the parish and a special Mass is devoted to them on Sunday. Once a month there a special Mass is celebrated for the growing number of Japanese worshiping there. There are also a number of Italians, Spaniards and Germans who enjoy Farm Street's international approach.
The Latin Mass at eleven o'clock on Sundays is very popular. The main texts are available at the back of the church in a number of translations.
However, the most delightful aspect of worship at Farm Street must be the choir. Their Director of Music, Nicholas Danby is himself an internationally renowned organist, and with him the choir have recently recorded a CD of popular wedding music.
The interior of the church is also of exceptional interest, with a stunning mosaic representing the Annunciation and Coronation of Our Lady, designed by Pugin, which frames the altar. Fr Beattie is also very proud of the mosaic work recently completed around the nave of the church. A six foot high carved wooden statue of Our Lady stands on the right hand side of the altar.
Of special importance to Farm Street is the statue of St Ignatius holding a book which contains the Jesuit motto Ad maiorem Dei gloriam, To the greater glory of God. Visually the church is certainly a reflection of His glory and as Fr Beattie says "it is a very prayerful place. The church opens at 6.45 a.m. and closes at 11 p.m. and there are always people in the church praying." It is, as he says a "very hallowed place."
Annabelle Whitestone