History
Church History
1850-1890 With the coming of the railways, Lake Como opens up as a destination for travellers, and an English speaking community develops. Hotel Cadenabbia builds a chapel for guests and residents to worship.
1891 A dedicated church is built in the Lombard style to the design of Giuseppe Brentano, a young architect from Milan, who tragically dies before his masterpiece is completed.
1890s-1910s Fundraising efforts by the community provide for the portico, pulpit and altar, as well as the internal decoration. The church is developing its unique character reflecting the tastes of the time.
1914-1918 In the First World War, Italy and Britain are allies and the church community thrives. R.F.Murcheson designs and makes the mosaic panels over the entrance and the mosaic apse, with the help of local people.
1925 The church has a full-time Anglican priest and at Easter there are no fewer than 29 services.
1939-1945 At the start of the Second World War, most of the expatriate families have left Italy, and the Church of the Ascension is closed. In 1945 an allied bomber jettisons its leftover bombs in the lake. An explosion blows out four of the six stained glass windows.
1949 The church reopens, although the expat community does not return as numerous as before.
1950s onwards Over the decades, the tiny resident community is augmented by a new generation of second home owners, and foreign tourists. The church community celebratesEaster and inaugurates a season of Sunday services and social events each summer.
2000s Mass tourism and the popularity of Lake Como mean the Church’s ministry extends to those who stay a few days in the area, or those who seek a religious celebration of marriage in this most beautiful church.
2020s Twin impacts of Covid and Brexit have an impact on the church community’s ability to resource resident priests and maintain our unique building.
A link to download a pdf with a fuller history of the Church of the Ascension, Cadenabbia will be available here soon.