Tuesday 9 September 2014

#IChallengeMS (Tour 1)

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September is the MS Society’s month of fund-raising, carrying the hashtag #IChallengeMS to improve social media visibility. One month to give something up, take something up, or just do something to raise money.

My challenge is to visit the 48 churches in the City of London (bonus points for ruins and gardens that occupy former sites!). Today was my first batch, and I visited seven churches… on that basis I need to up the pace a little.

St Michael Paternoster Royal; rebuilt at least twice (once after the Great Fire of LonStdon and again after the Blitz). Dick Whittington (four times Lord Mayor of London) was buried here – although his tomb lost in the re-buildings. He (and his legendary cat) are depicted in one of the stained glass windows (replaced in the late 60s). The church is also home to the Mission to Seamen.

Church 1

An album by TheMrsNatG
St Michael Paternoster Royal
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St Stephen Walbrook is tucked in behind Mansion House, and currently somewhat overshadowed by the building works taking place in Walbrook.

Church 2

An album by nat_grove
St Stephen Walbrook
St Stephen WalbrookSt Stephen WalbrookSt Stephen Walbrook
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St Mary Woolnoth is a square / rectangular church. Some classic bits of church furniture, and some more unusual bits, including what looks like some clock workings with a poem on the case.

Church 3

An album by nat_grove
St Mary Woolnoth
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St Mary WoolnothSt Mary Woolnoth
St Mary WoolnothSt Mary Woolnoth
St Mary WoolnothSt Mary Woolnoth

St Edmund the King, although still a consecrated church, is now a spirituality centre. Pieces of church furniture remain at the edges although most of the floor is taken up with a cloth representation of a labyrinth (which sent me of on a wander to find the stone version nearby).

Church 5

An album by TheMrsNatG
St Margaret Pattens
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St Margaret PattensSt Margaret Pattens
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St Margaret PattensSt Margaret Pattens

St Andrew Undershaft is in the shadow of a crowd of London’s sky-scrapers. I only looked through the doors here as it seems to be used more as a community centre now.

Church 6

An album by nat_grove
St Andrew Undershaft
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St Helen’s Bishopsgate is similarly overshadowed by the same set of sky-scrapers. It has a charming peaceful interior, and I was particularly taken with the beams on the ceiling.

Church 7

An album by nat_grove
St Helen's Bishopsgate
St Helen's BishopsgateSt Helen's BishopsgateSt Helen's Bishopsgate
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