The first Vicar of St Mary Magdalene’s was Father Richard Temple West, formerly a curate at All Saints, Margaret Street near Oxford Circus. Coming from a wealthy and aristocratic background, West had strong social and political connections, which made him an exceptional fundraiser.

He became friends with the architect George Edmund Street, a fellow worshipper at All Saints, and together they shared a vision – to build a beautiful new church for the people of North Paddington. Thanks to West’s influence and determination, that vision became reality.

The first service was held on 22 July 1873, St Mary Magdalene’s Day – the feast of the saint the church is named for. It was another five years before the building was officially consecrated and fully opened, on 21 October 1878. West was here for both.

Once in place, West introduced an Anglo-Catholic style of worship – rich in ritual, colour, and music. He believed that such beauty and solemnity could communicate an emotional Christianity to the people of this parish in a powerful and accessible way. Father West remained devoted to his parish, serving faithfully until his death in 1893.

After his death, funds were raised for three memorials to him. The largest is the Chapel of the Holy Sepulchre, in the undercroft beneath the church – and in one of its windows, in the furthest from the altar, West himself kneels in prayer.