ABANDONED
CHURCH IN LONDON
G'day folks,
A short walk from
Monument tube station, in a side street of the City of London, lies
St-Dunstan-in-the-East. This abandoned church has been converted into a garden
open to the public, which remains largely undiscovered despite its location.
Tucked away from skyscrapers like the Shard and Walkie Talkie, this unexpected
gem is a surprisingly peaceful place for reflection and escape from central
London at a time when its citizens perhaps need it most…
Surrounded by a grade-two listed Victorian wall, the original
St Dunstans church dates back to 1100. The church suffered damages in the 1666
Great Fire of London but was partially rebuilt, with many of the original
medieval structure remaining. Sir Christopher Wren, famous for redesigning the
majority of central London after the Great Fire, added a steeple known as the
Wren Tower in 1695-1901. Further renovations in the 19th century
updated the surrounding Portland stone walls, and added a vault.
It was only during the Blitz in World War II that the
church was damaged beyond repair, along with many other buildings in the
surrounding area. In 1941, the building was bombed extensively, leaving only
the Wren Tower and some outside walls standing. It was decided that the church
should not be rebuilt after the war. It lay as a wreck until the 1960s, when
the City of London council decided to transform the ruins into a garden for the
public.
The ruins of the old church now support an array of
flowers, trees and wall climbers, overlooked by the Wren Tower. A small fountain
and benches make this a perfect place to relax, and a great architectural use
of a small, destroyed plot of land in a built-up area. This beautiful public
space stands as a memory of the history of London, its struggles, and a symbol
of its resilience.
Busiest at lunchtime on weekdays, the garden is almost
deserted on the weekend. Occasional church services are still held in the
garden, including the Palm Sunday service every Easter. It is open from 7am to
dusk. Next time you’re in London, discover this oasis for some momentary
peace and relief from the chaos of life.
Now, check out some photographs.
Clancy's comment: Amazing, eh? Built in the 1100's. A true survivor.
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