St Anne And All Saints Church

Let’s talk about a church that’s basically a time-traveling celebrity.

St Anne and All Saints in Kew, London, isn’t your average quiet old building. This church has a wild backstory. It’s been standing since 1714, but it acts like it’s still in the punk rock era.

First up: its steeple is missing. No, it didn’t fall off. The architect, James Gibbs, designed a tower, but they ran out of cash. So, the church just… stopped building it. It’s like wearing a tuxedo jacket with no pants.

Locals call it “the church without a spire.” That’s not a flaw—it’s a signature look.

Art nerds, get ready to geek out.

St Anne’s is home to Joshua Reynolds’s stained glass window. He was the king of 18th-century portraits. He designed it when he was 80, and it’s called “The Resurrection.” It’s basically a rockstar painting trapped in glass.

But here’s the kicker: Reynolds is buried right there in the crypt. That means you can stare at his art, then stand on his bones. Spooky? Yes. Cool? Absolutely.

If you visit, whisper a compliment to the floor. He might hear you.

The church has a famous fan club: royals and rebels.

King George III lived nearby at Kew Palace. He loved this church. He even walked his cows past it. Seriously, the king brought his pet cows to graze in the garden. That’s not a metaphor—he was a cow guy.

And his daughter, Princess Amelia, was buried in the churchyard. She’s the one who made being a royal look like a soap opera.

St Anne and All Saints, South Lambeth Road « London Churches in photographs

But the most scandalous resident? Thomas Gainsborough, the painter. He’s also buried here. He once said, “We’re all going to heaven, and Vandyck is of the company.” That’s artist-level drama.

Now for the truly odd stuff.

Inside, look up. You’ll see a giant wooden crown hanging from the ceiling. It’s called a “crown of light.” It’s from 1911, and it wobbles when you walk near it. No one cares if it creaks—that’s part of the charm.

Also, the church has a crypt that’s now a café. Yes, you can sip coffee where bodies once rested. Ghosts love a good latte, apparently.

The graveyard is a history lesson in itself. You’ll find Captain James Cook’s son buried there. Also, a guy named “Johnny” who was a pirate. Not joking—his tombstone has a skull and crossbones.

Why this church is just plain fun to talk about.

St Anne and All Saints doesn’t take itself too seriously. It has a hamster-size bell that rings for funerals. The bell dates from 1717, and it’s so tiny you could fit it in a suitcase.

St. Anne and All Saints Church, South... © Danny P Robinson cc-by-sa/2.

Oh, and there’s a Viking-style rune stone in the garden. It was a gift from Sweden in 1928. Why? No one really knows. But it’s there, looking ancient and cool.

The church hosts concerts, yoga, and even silent discos. Yes, you can groove with headphones on while surrounded by 300-year-old walls.

Final weird fact: it’s on a busy roundabout.

St Anne’s sits on a traffic island near Kew Bridge. Cars zoom past, but inside, it’s peaceful and bizarre. It’s like a secret pocket dimension.

If you visit, touch the door. It’s oak from 1714, still has the original hinges. You’re literally holding history.

So go. Stare at the missing spire. Hunt for Gainsborough’s ghost. And don’t forget to say hi to the pirate. This church is proof that old things can still be thrilling.