St_Thomas_Cathedral,_Acton
St Thomas Cathedral, Acton
Church in London, England
St Thomas Syriac Orthodox Cathedral Acton is a Syriac Orthodox Cathedral in Acton, London, England, formerly known as St Saviour's Centre for the Deaf Anglican church, which was a social centre for deaf people, and the first and only purpose-built church for deaf people as such.[1] St Saviour's was the central location for the London Diocesan Chaplaincy among Deaf and Deafblind people. The church and social centre closed in 2014 following a loss of funding, and insufficient financial reserves to maintain the premises.[1] The final church service was held on Wednesday 24 September 2014, at which the Bishop of Willesden officiated.[2]
On 25 November 2016, the cathedral was consecrated as a cathedral for the Syriac Orthodox Church, under the new name of St Thomas Syriac Orthodox Cathedral Acton. The ceremony was officiated by Syriac Patriarch of Antioch Ignatius Aphrem II, at the presence of the Prince of Wales (later King Charles III) and several seniors of the Church of England.[3]