Tag Archives: pray

St. Ethelburga’s ~ a centre for reconciliation & peace.

06 Thursday Sep 2012

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In today’s world of terrorism “St. Ethelburga the Virgin within Bishopsgate” offers a compelling message and is an inspiration to those who seek peace and reconciliation.

Aside from its long name it is unique for many reasons.  It is the smallest church in London, at only 55 feet in length; however, when it was first built it was the largest building in Bishopsgate.  Originally founded around 1180, the present building dates from the 1400s.  It survived the Great Fire in 1666 and remainly mainly unscathed from German bombs in WW II.  In 1950 it became a Grade I listed building.  However, it was almost destroyed by the Irish Republican Army in a devastating terrorist attack on April 24, 1993.  On this date, the IRA detonated a large truck bomb in Bishopsgate, killing one and injuring 44.  The truck was parked at 99 Bishopsgate only a few metres away from the church.  The one ton bomb essentially destroyed the church - as well as devastating a wide area of about 1/2 kilometre radius around the blast centre.  As a result of this bomb, major changes in London’s security emerged - including the rapid proliferation of CCTV cameras throughout the city.

After the bombing, factions within the Church of England felt it was best to demolish the church.  However, public outcry led to an alternate plan - the rebuilding of the church building, its decommisioning, and its conversion to a centre for peace and reconciliation.   The church now houses the St Ethelburga’s Centre for Reconciliation and Peace. The Centre hosts and organizes over 100 public events a year exploring the relationship between faith and conflict.  It also provides a forum to discuss inter-faith issues and provides training on such issues.  The Centre estimates that over 10,000 people per year benefit and participate in their programs.

Their “Listen to the World” program (typically on Friday or Saturday evenings) brings in musicians and poets from around the world whose art form typically communicates the struggles they face.  All events are listed on their website and are open to the public.  Door fees may apply, and tickets as a discount can often be purchased in advance.  If not attending an event, the building itself is open to visitors on Fridays from 11 - 3pm.  See their website for details & an event calendar: http://stethelburgas.org

Located at: 78 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 4AG

Closest tube: Liverpool Street

Photo credits:  St. Ethelburga’s website.

All Hallows by the Tower ~ the oldest church in the City with USA connections.

12 Thursday Jul 2012

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Founded in 675, it is the oldest church in the City of London.  It contains a Saxon arch from the 7th Century.  This part of the church is the oldest surviving section of church in the City.  Founded by the Saxon Abbey at Barking it was for many years known as All Hallows Barking.  Traces of an old Roman building have been found in the crypt indicating it was built on a former Roman site.  The church is steeped in history - from an explosion caused by gunpowder stored in the basement that destroyed 50 nearby homes in 1650, to its surviving the Great Fire of London, to its reconstruction after devastation from German bombing in WWII.  Its survival from the Great Fire was attributable to the actions of Admiral Penn whose naval brigade demolished properties around the church to create a fire break.   During the Great Fire Samuel Pepys watched the fire from the steeple Admiral Penn was the father of one of the founding settlers of America - William Penn, for who Pennsylvannia is named.  William Penn was baptized here in 1644.  John Adams, the 7th President of the US, was married here in 1797.

The church has a museum called the Crypt Museum, containing portions of a Roman pavement, which together with many artifacts, was discovered many feet below the church in 1926. The exhibits focus on the history of the church and the City of London, and include Saxon and religious artefacts.

The church is open daily from 8-6pm (10-5 on weekends).  There are regular guided tours and a bookstore for gifts.  Events are held throughout the year, including regular Thursday lunchtime organ recitals, plays and musical events.  Check their website for more details:  http://www.allhallowsbythetower.org.uk/

Located at: Byward Street, London EC3R 5BJ (adjacent to the Tower of London)

Closest tube: Tower Hill

St. Bartholomew-the-Great ~ an historic church and “big screen” regular!

02 Monday Jul 2012

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Saint Bartholomew-the-Great is an Anglican / Episcopal church in West Smithfield and is one of London’s oldest churches. Founded in 1123 as an Augustinian Priory, it has been in continuous use as a place of worship since at least 1143. The church was built when Henry I, son of William the Conqueror, was King of England.  The Priory was dissolved in 1539 and the nave of the Church was demolished. The monastic buildings were largely intact and the Canons’ choir and sanctuary were preserved for parish use. Under Queen Mary, there was briefly a house of Dominican friars here, before it reverted to being a Parish Church under Queen Elizabeth I. Various parts of the building were damaged or destroyed through the centuries until the restoration began in the 19th century, first in the 1860s and then, under Sir Aston Webb, in the 1880s and 90s and on into the 20th century. Given it survived the Great Fire of 1666 and the Blitz in World War II much of the church is historic and original.  In addition to the church there is a wonderful historic Tudor Gateway built atop the entrance to the south aisle of the nave.  It is one of the oldest surviving timber framed Tudor facades.

Today the Church has a reputation for its wonderful architecture & traditional formal worship.  There are services throughout the week, with numerous services on Sundays.  The church is open daily for visitors (hours vary) & an admission charge applies.  Visit their website for more details: www.greatstbarts.com

The church is also a regular location for film and television productions.  It has appeared in numerous award-winning films including Four Weddings and a Funeral, Shakespeare in Love, The End of the Affair, Amazing Grace, Elizabeth: The Golden Age and The Other Boleyn Girl.  It’s television appearances include Madame Bovary, The Real Sherlock Holmes, Spooks (MI-5 in the USA), and The League of Gentlemen Christmas Special.

A café-bar is open in the 15th Century Cloister of the Church daily from 10.00 – 4.30 Monday to Saturday and before and after all three services on Sunday. We serve a good selection of fine wines, monastic beers, coffee and food.

Located: just off West Smithfield & Cloth Fair.

Closest Tube: Barbican

St. Stephen Walbrook ~ a Christopher Wren church of significance.

25 Monday Jun 2012

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By the second century A.D., the Roman Temple of Mithras stood here on the banks of a steam.  A Saxon church was built on the foundations to convert this heathen site to hallowed ground.  By 1428 the Walbrook was now a road and the church was rebuilt 20 meters east on a larger plot of ground.  The new church was one of a hundred inside the city’s square mile. In 1666 the church burnt down in the Great Fire.

As Royal Surveyor, Christopher Wren was assigned to the rebuilding of many churches.  While he and his staff began construction on many churches in 1670 and 1671, the construction of only one church was begun in 1672 - St. Stephen Walbrook.  While speculation exists as to why, it is likely that because this was Christopher Wren’s own parish church, his personal attention was given to its design and construction.  He lived at No. 15 Walbrook at the time.  The church was generally completed by 1679, though the steeple was not finished until 1717. 

The church is considered by many a masterpiece, one of the 10 finest buildings in all of England and perhaps the only building in which Wren was able to fully showcase his talents and vision.  The church is rectangular in design, with a dome and attached tower.  The support structure of the dome and the interior design make it arguably Wren’s finest church interior.

In 1953, a vicar at St. Stephen Walbrook began a mission that would grow into an international organization called Samaritans. The church displays a telephone in a glass box, commemorating the 24-hour phone line always open to people in distress or at risk of suicide. Keeping up with the times, the organization now also offers support via email and text messaging.

Located at: 39 Walbrook, London EC4N 8BN

Nearest Tube: Bank

Saint Mary Woolnoth ~ 1716 ~ by architect Nicholas Hawksmoor

11 Monday Jun 2012

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St. Mary Woolnoth is one of six churches designed by the English architect Nicholas Hawksmoor.  This is perhaps his most compact church that has an unorthodox design for a church - appearing imposing not graceful.  Hawksmoor’s churches have drawn sharp opinions from poets to authors to religious and architectural critics.  The interior is typical Hawksmoor evoking a ‘cube within a cube’.  Today Hawksmoor’s reputation as an architect continues to grow beyond his role as an assistant to Christopher Wren - with an exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts through June 2012 helping promote his role.  The church was slated for demolition for almost two centuries, and only in 1950 was it named to the Statutory List of Buildings of Special Architecture and Historic Interest which saved it from destruction.  Originally its design would have been more imposing when it was not surrounded by city buildings.  Located on the corner of Lombard St and King William Street, the site has been a religious location for over 2000 years with both pagan and roman relics found under its foundations.

Unlike most churches, this church is generally only open during the weekdays as it caters to the City crowd (which is gone on weekends).  Services and opening hours are detailed online.  For more information visit their website at: http://stml.org.uk/

Closest tube: Bank

Saint Benet, Paul’s Wharf ~ the only original Christopher Wren church in London

07 Thursday Jun 2012

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While a church has been on this site since 1111, the current church was built after the Great Fire of London in 1685 by Christopher Wren.  It survived the Second World War intact and remains the only unaltered church built by Wren in London. The church is built in a Dutch country style, is basically square, and retains the galleries.  In 1879 Queen Victoria granted the Welsh community the right to worship in Welsh.  Since then it has remained the ‘Welsh Church’ in London and was consecrated as the London Church of Welsh Episcopalians.  The church still holds Sunday services in Welsh (with English translation) and offers tours on Thursdays.

 

 

 

See their website for more details: http://www.stbenetwelshchurch.org.uk/pages/homeENG.html

Located at: White Lion Hill and Queen Victoria Street, London EC4V 4ER

Closest tube: Blackfriars.

 

Neasden Temple (Hindu Mandir) ~ the 8th Wonder of the World?

31 Thursday May 2012

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Neasden Temple (BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir), the first traditional Hindu Mandir outside India is an architectural gem that has become one of London’s ‘must-see’ attractions.

2,000 tons of Italian marble and 3,000 tons of Bulgarian limestone were shipped out to India to be carved by 1000 craftsmen then brought back to London where the beautiful building was assembled like 26,000-piece three-dimensional jigsaw. It is open from 9am to 6pm daily.
All visitors are welcome and are asked to observe the dress code of no revealing or short clothes. For more information go to the website:  http://www.mandir.org/

105-119 Brentfield Road, Neasden NW10 8LD

Closest tube: Stonebridge Park

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