Notre Dame de France

Un petit bijou artistique en plein centre de Londres, à deux pas de Covent Garden. Si vous passez dans le coin, arrêtez vous absolument, Notre Dame de France possède une magnifique fresque de Cocteau.

I adore this church & the Cocteau mural. A wonderful oasis of calm in the centre of London
It was Mr René Varin, cultural advisor at the French Embassy in London who thought of asking Cocteau to take part in the decorative work of the new Church. The building had been virtually destroyed by a bomb during World Wall II and was being rebuilt.
Cocteau, who was 70 at the time, spent slightly more than a week on the project, from 3 11 November 1959. His films, particularly Le Testament d’Orphee, were enjoying huge success in London at that time and he had to be protected from the invasion of reporters and fans by a wooden scaffolding all around the chapel. You can see his self portrait to the immediate left of the altar. I love the symbolic half risen Christ.
Today, sadly, they have glass doors in front to protect it. So sad. This church is so good to the homeless too
Services are mostly in French & sometimes in Creole. Great to be a part of.

Did you know you could find Jean Cocteau murals in the heart of London? There are a few inside Notre Dame de France, the French church just off Leicester Square, Chinatown side. The thorough cleaning undergone by the interior a couple of years ago has transformed its atmosphere from gloomy and sad to light and airy. Apart from the Cocteau artwork, the unusual, cheerful tapestry hanging above the altar makes this church quite unique.