Corpus Christi, Maiden Lane: Restoration starts

Corpus Christi in Covent Garden’s Maiden Lane is a delightful little church with many attractions including a rare window depicting St Juliana of Liege who founded the annual feast day of Corpus Christi.

Visitors can now appreciate the first stage of the church’s restoration project. The walls have been stripped bare and the roof repainted.

But this is just the beginning. The sanctuary and Lady Chapel are soon to be renewed.

Most dramatic will be the installation of glass doors which will open up this often missed hidden gem opposite Rules restaurant.

Project patrons include Julian Fellowes, Frank Skinner and Anne Widdecombe.

Independent Catholic News has a full report on a celebration marking stage one.

Corpus Christi is open daily from 7am to 7pm.

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Wintershall comes to Langham Place

The acclaimed open air Wintershall Nativity Play usually staged in Surrey is being brought to the new piazza at Broadcasting House.

The long enclosed area at the side of Broadcasting House, and dominated by All Souls Langham Place at the south end, is the setting for telling the Christmas story.

During the 90 minute production, the audience will see Mary and Joseph with their donkey, shepherds minding sheep and later the Three Kings looking for Baby Jesus.

The performances, accompanied by songs and music, are on Thursday 19 December at 4.30pm and 7pm. Tickets (£20; child £10) are available from the Wintershall box office.

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Timothy Betjeman at Margaret Street

Artist Timothy Betjeman is showing paintings and sketches of All Saints Margaret Street interior at the church from Tuesday 22 to Sunday 27 October.

Timothy is grandson of Sir John Betjeman and the exhibition is open 12-6pm.

The annual All Saints Festival opens on Thursday 31 October at 6.30pm with Litany of Saints in Procession, Solemn Evensong and Solemn Benediction. The preacher is Little St Mary’s Cambridge vicar Robert Mackley. What better way to spend Halloween?

 

 

 

 

ALL SAINTS FESTIVAL 2013

THURS 31 OCT – EVE OF ALL SAINTS 6.30pm
LITANY OF THE SAINTS IN PROCESSION, SOLEMN EVENSONG
AND SOLEMN BENEDICTION
Fr Robert Mackley, Vicar of Little St Mary’s, Cambridge
Music: Service in F minor—Gray What are these that glow from afar?—Gray

 

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St Anne & St Agnes Church is now the Gresham Centre

St Anne & St Agnes Church, vacated earlier this year by the Lutheran congregation, has quickly become the Gresham Centre.

This is home to a music project for all ages run by the charitable music foundation Voces Cantabiles Music in partnership with the Diocese of London.

The Lutherans are now sharing St Mary-at-Hill Church with the Anglican congregation.

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Open House London: St Cuthbert’s Philbeach Gardens

There are plenty of churches joining in Open House London over the weekend 21 and 22 September.

One which has in the past not been open enough is St Cuthbert’s in Philbeach Gardens SW5 (near Earls Court Station). This fantastic church looks like a showroom for Liberty’s in the 1890s. It’s well worth a visit. The congregation has doubled since March so its future seems assured. Open Sat and Sun 1pm-5pm.

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Brian Catling makes cross for St Martin-in-the-Fields

A new processional cross is being dedicated on Sunday at St Martin-in-the-Fields.

It has been designed and produced by sculptor Brian Catling as part of the church’s Renewal Project.

His starting point is two pieces of wood tied together by a length of string – an allusion to St Martin tearing his cloak.

“The privilege of making the processional cross has been overwhelming, both in the excitement of the concept and the enduring nature of its meaning,” said Professor Catling.

“But also in the anxiety of getting it right. It is difficult for an artist to explain this, but the many hours of wakeful night time dreaming, becomes the forging in the imagination of the meaning of the work. This is as great a part of the process as the shaping, casting and balancing of the physical object.

“But for me it is essential that I have both a hands-on and mindful relationship with the sculptural identity of the cross. Design is not enough, I need the struggle and tension that only ever comes through deep feeling, prolonged thought, and the work of the hands.”

Vicar Sam Wells said: “The cross brings together themes of suffering, shame, and glory.

“The contorted shape of the wood invites passionate engagement with the horror and exclusion of the cross, while the gold finish inspires us to believe that all our human failure and folly will be redeemed in Christ’s final overcoming of suffering and death. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a cross that does fuller justice to both the agony and the glory of Calvary.”

The dedication of the new cross takes place during the evening service on Sunday 15 September at 6.30pm. A short reception to which all are welcome will follow.

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Prince opens shop next to St Mary Moorfields

The Prince’s Trust Tomorrow’s Store has opened next door to St Mary Moorfields.

The shop, opened this week by Prince Charles, sells jewellery, clothes, homewares and stationery by young entrepreneurs who have set up in business with support from the Trust.

The two destinations being together should help footfall for both.

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City Harvest Festivals 2013

Sunday 29 September
3pm Welsh Harvest Festival
St Benet’s, Queen Victoria Street

Sunday 29 September
3pm Costermongers Harvest Festival
St Mary-le-Bow

Sunday 13th October
11am Fish Harvest Festival
St Mary-at-Hill

Wednesday 10 October
11am Agricultural Journalists Harvest Festival
St Bride’s, Fleet Street

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John Amis funeral at St Sepulchre’s

Those of us wondering where the funeral of John Amis would be held should have remembered the Musicians’ Church.

The musician, broadcaster and critic John Amis died on 1 August and his funeral will be at St Sepulchre’s in the City of London on Tuesday 20 August at 11am.

The burial service is the next day at Aldeburgh Church in Suffolk.

A memorial service is planned at St. Paul’s Knightsbridge on 8 October at 11am.

St Sepulchre’s has stained glass windows depicting St Cecilia, Dame Nellie Melba and Sir Henry Wood.

 

 

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St Lawrence Jewry: Daily concert during August

Some City churches “shut up shop” in August says Canon David Parrott.

He is Guild Vicar of St Lawrence Jewry and adds that his church is open from 8am to 5.30pm every weekday in August.

In addition there is a free concert at 1pm on all those days. This year the August Music Festival takes as its theme Schubert and Britten.

 

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