BROMPTON ORATORY

formally London Oratory of St. Philip Neri, Roman Catholic church in the London borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It lies south of Kensington Gardens and just east of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The Baroque structure was designed by Herbert Gribble and opened in 1884. It contains large marble statues (brought to the church from Siena, Italy) of the apostles of Jesus Christ. The Brompton Oratory is maintained by the Institute of the Oratory, an order of secular priests. The church's richly ornamented nave is a venue for choral and organ performances.