The chapel was purchased in 1873 and opened as a Roman Catholic church in 1878. It is one of the oldest Roman Catholic church buildings in England, and one of only two surviving buildings in London dating from Edward I's reign. It consists of a chapel, or Upper Church, and a crypt, or undercroft.
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Because Etheldreda was often invoked for help with infections of the throat, the Blessing of the Throats is held annually at the chapel.
The Catholic chapel at the United States Military Academy, West Point is modelled on St Etheldreda's.