St George's Church is the only English-speaking Anglican congregation in

Lisbon Lisbon ( ; ) is the capital and largest city of Portugal, with an estimated population of 567,131, as of 2023, within its administrative limits and 3,028,000 within the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, metropolis, as of 2025. Lisbon is mainlan ...

Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic, is a country on the Iberian Peninsula in Southwestern Europe. Featuring Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point in continental Europe, Portugal borders Spain to its north and east, with which it share ...

. It is located at Rua São Jorge 6, north of the Estrela Garden.

History

In 1654 a treaty between Lord Protector

Oliver Cromwell Oliver Cromwell (25 April 15993 September 1658) was an English statesman, politician and soldier, widely regarded as one of the most important figures in British history. He came to prominence during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, initially ...

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

and King John IV of

(signed on his behalf by

João Rodrigues de Sá e Menezes João is a given name of Portuguese language, Portuguese origin. It is equivalent to the given name John (given name), John. The diminutive is Joãozinho (disambiguation), Joãozinho and the Feminine (grammar), feminine is Joana. It is widespread ...

Count of Penaguião Count of Penaguião (in Portuguese ''Conde de Penaguião'') is a Portuguese title of nobility, created by King Philip I of Portugal, on 10 February 1583, for '' Dom'' João Rodrigues de Sá. The noble family of Sá were elevated as Marquises o ...

) allowed English residents in Portugal to ''"profess their own Religion in private houses... and that finally a Place be allowed for them to bury their dead"''. A chaplaincy was established, with services held in the home of the British Envoy.

Cemetery

Although a burial ground had been promised by the 1654 treaty, implementation was thwarted by the

Portuguese Inquisition The Portuguese Inquisition (Portuguese language, Portuguese: ''Inquisição Portuguesa''), officially known as the General Council of the Holy Office of the Inquisition in Portugal, was formally established in Kingdom of Portugal, Portugal in 15 ...

. Land was finally leased in 1717; the first burial was that of Francis La Roche, a

Huguenot The Huguenots ( , ; ) are a Religious denomination, religious group of French people, French Protestants who held to the Reformed (Calvinist) tradition of Protestantism. The term, which may be derived from the name of a Swiss political leader, ...

refugee, who died in 1724. Notable burials in the cemetery include the tombs of the writer

Henry Fielding Henry Fielding (22 April 1707 – 8 October 1754) was an English writer and magistrate known for the use of humour and satire in his works. His 1749 comic novel ''The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling'' was a seminal work in the genre. Along wi ...

, of hymn-writer

Philip Doddridge Philip Doddridge D.D. (26 June 1702 – 26 October 1751) was an English Nonconformist (specifically, Congregationalist) minister, educator, and hymnwriter. Early life Philip Doddridge was born in London, the last of the twenty children ...

, of merchant

David de Pury Baron David de Pury (born David Pury; 19 January 1709 – 31 May 1786) was a banker, merchant, and philanthropist from Neuchâtel. His involvement in the triangular trade, particularly diamond and precious wood trading between Europe and South A ...

, astronomer

Carl Ludwig Christian Rümker Carl Ludwig Christian Rümker (28 May 1788 – 21 December 1862) was a German astronomer. Early life (1788-1821) Rümker was born in Burg Stargard, in Mecklenburg, Germany, the son of J. F. Rümker, a court-councillor. He showed an aptitude for ...

, Field Marshal of the Portuguese land army

Christian August, Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont Christian August, Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont (; ; 6 December 1744, Arolsen – 24 September 1798, Palácio Nacional de Sintra, Sintra, near Lisbon) was a general in the Austrian service, and last commander and Field Marshal of the Portugue ...

and diplomat Thomas Barclay. The cemetery includes 31 Commonwealth War Graves: five from the

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

and 26 from the

Second The second (symbol: s) is a unit of time derived from the division of the day first into 24 hours, then to 60 minutes, and finally to 60 seconds each (24 × 60 × 60 = 86400). The current and formal definition in the International System of U ...

. 29 are in individual plots; two are in private family vaults. They include members of the

British Army The British Army is the principal Army, land warfare force of the United Kingdom. the British Army comprises 73,847 regular full-time personnel, 4,127 Brigade of Gurkhas, Gurkhas, 25,742 Army Reserve (United Kingdom), volunteer reserve perso ...

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...

Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the Air force, air and space force of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. It was formed towards the end of the World War I, First World War on 1 April 1918, on the merger of t ...

Royal Canadian Air Force The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; ) is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environmental commands within the unified Can ...

, Merchant Navy and

British Overseas Airways Corporation British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) was the United Kingdom, British state-owned national airline created in 1939 by the merger of Imperial Airways and British Airways Ltd. It continued operating overseas services throughout World War II ...

. Count

Miklós Horthy Miklós Horthy de Nagybánya (18 June 1868 – 9 February 1957) was a Hungarian admiral and statesman who was the Regent of Hungary, regent of the Kingdom of Hungary (1920–1946), Kingdom of Hungary Hungary between the World Wars, during the ...

, a

Calvinist Reformed Christianity, also called Calvinism, is a major branch of Protestantism that began during the 16th-century Protestant Reformation. In the modern day, it is largely represented by the Continental Reformed Protestantism, Continenta ...

former

Vice Admiral Vice admiral is a senior naval flag officer rank, usually equivalent to lieutenant general and air marshal. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral. Australia In the Royal Australian Navy, the rank of Vice ...

in the

Austro-Hungarian Navy The Austro-Hungarian Navy or Imperial and Royal War Navy (, in short ''k.u.k. Kriegsmarine'', ) was the navy, naval force of Austria-Hungary. Ships of the Austro-Hungarian Navy were designated ''SMS'', for ''Seiner Majestät Schiff'' (His Majes ...

and

Regent of Hungary The regent of Hungary was a position established in 1446 and renewed in 1920. It was held by Admiral Miklós Horthy until 1944. Under Hungary's constitution there were two regents, one a regent of the ruling house, called the Nádor, and another ...

, died in exile in Portugal and was buried in the cemetery, along with his wife and son. In 1993 they were exhumed, and re-interred in the Horthy family mausoleum in

Kenderes Kenderes () is a small town in Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok county, Hungary. It is notable as the birthplace of Miklós Horthy, Regent of the Kingdom of Hungary from 1920 to 1944, and for the many memorials dedicated to him around the town. A major t ...

Church building

Anglicans in Portugal petitioned for permission to build a church, but until the early 19th century the Portuguese Inquisition prevailed on the monarch not to grant it. A church of St George the Martyr was built in the cemetery in 1822. That church was consecrated in 1843 but was damaged by earthquake in 1859. It was rebuilt, but burnt down in 1886. The present church was designed by the London-based architects John Medland and Charles Edward Powell and consecrated in 1889. It is a

Romanesque Revival Romanesque Revival (or Neo-Romanesque) is a style of building employed beginning in the mid-19th century inspired by the 11th- and 12th-century Romanesque architecture. Unlike the historic Romanesque style, Romanesque Revival buildings tended t ...

building with a

narthex The narthex is an architectural element typical of Early Christian art and architecture, early Christian and Byzantine architecture, Byzantine basilicas and Church architecture, churches consisting of the entrance or Vestibule (architecture), ve ...

blind arcade Blind often refers to: * The state of blindness, being unable to see * A window blind, a covering for a window Blind may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Blind'' (1987 film), a documentary by Frederick Wiseman about t ...

s and

rose window Rose window is often used as a generic term applied to a circular window, but is especially used for those found in Gothic cathedrals and churches. The windows are divided into segments by stone mullions and tracery. The term ''rose window'' wa ...

on its west front. The windows are by Lavers & Westlake.

Anglican Church of St George and St Paul, Lisbon

In 1984, St George's Church, Lisbon was amalgamated with St Paul's Church, Estoril to form the Greater Lisbon Chaplaincy, and is part of the

Diocese in Europe The Diocese of Gibraltar in Europe, known simply as the Diocese in Europe (DiE), is a diocese of the Church of England. It was originally formed in 1842 as the Diocese of Gibraltar. It is geographically the largest diocese of the Church of Englan ...

of the

Church of England The Church of England (C of E) is the State religion#State churches, established List of Christian denominations, Christian church in England and the Crown Dependencies. It is the mother church of the Anglicanism, Anglican Christian tradition, ...

. It is now named the Anglican Church of St George and St Paul, Lisbon.

Chaplains

Chaplains of St George's

In the early years there were many long periods of interregnum. The last of these was from 1800 to 1812, due to the

Peninsular War The Peninsular War (1808–1814) was fought in the Iberian Peninsula by Kingdom of Portugal, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, United Kingdom against the invading and occupying forces of the First French ...

. *

Zachary Cradock Zachary Cradock (1633–1695) was a List of Provosts of Eton College, provost of Eton, and brother of Samuel Cradock. Early life His father was settled in Rutland. He was educated in Cambridge at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, Emmanuel College, and ...

, 1656 to 1660, subsequently

Provost of Eton The provost is the chairman of the governing body of Eton College. He is chosen by the Crown and is assisted by a vice-provost and ten fellows. Provosts of Eton 15th century *Henry Sever (1440–1442) *William Waynflete (1442–1447) * John C ...

*Thomas Marsden, 1661 to 1663 * Michael Geddes, 1678 to 1688, subsequently Chancellor of

Salisbury Cathedral Salisbury Cathedral, formally the Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is an Church of England, Anglican cathedral in the city of Salisbury, England. The cathedral is regarded as one of the leading examples of Early English architecture, ...

John Colbatch John Colbatch (1664–11 February 1748), sometimes Colbach, was an English churchman and academic, professor of moral philosophy at Cambridge. Drawn into the long legal struggle between Richard Bentley and the fellowship of Trinity College, Camb ...

, 1688 to 1698, subsequently

Knightbridge Professor of Philosophy The Knightbridge Professorship of Philosophy is the senior professorship in Faculty of philosophy cambridge, philosophy at the University of Cambridge. There have been 22 Knightbridge professors, the incumbent being Rae Langton. History One of the ...

Cambridge Cambridge ( ) is a List of cities in the United Kingdom, city and non-metropolitan district in the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It is the county town of Cambridgeshire and is located on the River Cam, north of London. As of the 2021 Unit ...

Jonathan Swift Jonathan Swift (30 November 1667 – 19 October 1745) was an Anglo-Irish writer, essayist, satirist, and Anglican cleric. In 1713, he became the Dean (Christianity), dean of St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, and was given the sobriquet "Dean Swi ...

, appointed 1702, but never went to Lisbon; subsequently well known as a satirist, and Dean of

St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin Saint Patrick's Cathedral () in Dublin, Ireland is the national cathedral of the Church of Ireland. Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, Christ Church Cathedral, also a Church of Ireland cathedral in Dublin, is designated as the local cathedral of ...

* Joseph Wilcocks, 1709 to 1714, subsequently

Bishop of Gloucester The Bishop of Gloucester is the Ordinary (officer), ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Gloucester, England, Diocese of Gloucester in the Province of Canterbury. The diocese covers the Gloucestershire, County of Gloucestershire and part ...

and then concurrently

Bishop of Rochester The Bishop of Rochester is the Ordinary (officer), ordinary of the Church of England's Diocese of Rochester in the Province of Canterbury. The town of Rochester, Kent, Rochester has the bishop's seat, at the Rochester Cathedral, Cathedral Chur ...

and

Dean of Westminster The Dean of Westminster is the head of the chapter at Westminster Abbey. Due to the abbey's status as a royal peculiar, the dean answers directly to the British monarch (not to the Bishop of London as ordinary, nor to the Archbishop of Canterb ...

*Joseph Simms, 1721–1734, subsequently

Prebendary A prebendary is a member of the Catholic Church, Catholic or Anglicanism , Anglican clergy, a form of canon (priest) , canon with a role in the administration of a cathedral or collegiate church. When attending services, prebendaries sit in part ...

Lincoln Cathedral Lincoln Cathedral, also called Lincoln Minster, and formally the Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Lincoln, is a Church of England cathedral in Lincoln, England, Lincoln, England. It is the seat of the bishop of Lincoln and is the Mo ...

and

St Paul's Cathedral St Paul's Cathedral, formally the Cathedral Church of St Paul the Apostle, is an Anglican cathedral in London, England, the seat of the Bishop of London. The cathedral serves as the mother church of the Diocese of London in the Church of Engl ...

*Staveley Parker, 1743 to 1749 *John Williamson, 1749 to 1763 *William Allen, 1763 to 1782 *Herbert Hill, 1782 to 1800 *Robert Marrat Miller, 1812 to 1818 *Thomas Hurford Siely, 1819 to 1840 *George Sayle Prior, 1841 to 1861 *Thomas Kenworthy Brown, 1861 to 1867 *Thomas Godfrey Pembroke Pope, 1867 to 1902, invited to become the bishop of the Lusitanian Church in 1889, but which he declined *William Hawkesley Westall, 1902 to 1907 *Edward Pilcher Lewis, 1907 to 1915 *Joseph Henry Morton Nodder, 1915 to 1924 *Charles James Hamilton Dobson, 1925 to 1930 *Cyril Gerald Holland, 1930 to 1935 *Herbert Pentin, 1936 to 1937 *Harry Frank Fulford Williams, 1937 to 1945 *Hugh Farie, 1945 to 1959 *Robert William Scrymgour Dand, 1960 to 1966 *Henry Chatfield-Jude, 1966 to 1976 *Victor Andrew Joseph Ravensdale, 1977 to 1984

Chaplains of the Greater Lisbon Chaplaincy

*Kenneth William Alfred Roberts, 1984 to 1986 *Anthony Hughes Ashdown, 1987 to 1990 * John Kenneth Robinson, 1991 to 2000, subsequently

Dean of Gibraltar The Dean of Gibraltar is the head (''primus inter pares'' – first among equals) and chair of the chapter of canons, the ruling body of the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Gibraltar. The cathedral is the mother church of the Diocese in Europe and ...

*Michael Bullock OGS, 2000-2012 *Nigel Leslie Stimpson, 2013-2014 *Frank Sawyer, 2016-2019 *Elizabeth Bendry, since 2020

Fincham pipe organ

When the existing church was designed, traditional choir stalls were included in front of the Sanctuary and Henry Fincham of London built and installed a two-manual pipe organ for £526. It has 25 ranks with 61-note compass of the manuals and 30-note compass of the pedals. There were two minor changes to the Great organ which, in its original state, did not include mutation stops. The organ was restored in 1971.Hampton, John D and Staines, EN, ''History of the Lisbon Chaplaincy'', 1989, 2nd edition, St George's Church Council, p 64. This is the current disposition of the organ after 125 years of use: Great – I *8' Open Diapason *8' Lieblich Gedacht *8' Gambe *4' Principal *2' Nazard *2' Fifteenth *1' Tierce *8' Corno de Bassetto *8' Trumpet Pedal *16' Grande Open Diapason *16' Bourdon Swell – II *16' Double Open Diapason *8' Horn Diapason *8' Stopped Diapason *8' Vox Angelica *8' Voix Celeste *4' Principal *4' Flûte a Cheminee *2' Fifteenth *III Mixture *8' Cornopean *8' Hautboy *8' Vox Humana *Swell Tremulant *Swell to Great Super *Swell to Great *Swell to Pedal *Great to Pedal *Swell shades open catch mechanism *5 pre-set piston shoes

References

External links

Anglican Church of St George and St Paul, Lisbon
{{Authority control Anglican church buildings in Portugal Churches in Lisbon Churches completed in 1889 Romanesque Revival church buildings George Lisbon