Monday 11 November 2013

St Ethelburga

Beneath the skyscrapers of the city of London lie the remains of St Ethelburga's church.












It isn't known when the church was first founded but records showing its existence date back to 1252. It was rebuilt around the 1400s and a square bell tower added in 1775. This is how it looks from the front.








It was  slightly damaged during the Blitz in WW2. But  during the IRA bombing of Bishopsgate in 1993,  when a bomb exploded,  much of the church was destroyed with an estimated  £350m worth of damage in the surrounding area.


 




The church is now a centre for Reconciliation and Peace. It holds various meetings and events throughout the year to look at the relationship between faith and conflict.




 As today is the 11th day of the 11th month and Remembrance day in the UK let us hope for more Peace and Reconciliation throughout the world.


 Sharing with

Our World Tuesday

28 comments:

  1. How true and such a beautful little church to visit

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  2. Timely post! Inspiring how the damaged church is a place of reconciliation despite being so poorly treated in the past. Difficult as it can be … forgiveness of wrongs done seems to be one of the surest paths towards peace.

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  3. How nice that despite the damage the church can have a function in this world of conflict.

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  4. Lovely church and photos. It is nice to see the church is still around after so much damage. I wish for peace on this day of Remembrance! Enjoy your new week ahead!

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  5. Wonderful collection of photos of this interesting church. What an amazing difference in architecture between The Gherkin and the church in your top photograph.

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  6. Good to see it has the blue faced clock.

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  7. A wonderful old church, fascinating history and terrific captures for the day!! Thanks as always for sharing the beauty and the history!! Have a great week!

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  8. How wonderful that the church is now a center for reconciliation and peace. Great post.

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  9. Such a lovely place to visit, and nice it still has a function in today's world.

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  10. It's really tucked away there among the towering modern buildings. Here, here! to its mission!

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  11. What a pretty church - I really love that first photo with the contrast between the old and new.

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  12. That is a great looking church.

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  13. What a lovely church. Too bad about it's troubled history. Yes, let's hope for peace in the world.

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  14. What a quaint church! So nice that is still there!

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  15. What a pretty church.

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  16. Last time I was in London and took the wrong bus, I saw this church, but didn't know anything about it. So your post was very informative for me !

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  17. This is a beautiful place to find rest and peace! I wish I had seen it whenever I was in London. It's beautiful!

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  18. Beautiful church and windows!!

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  19. You get the feeling that if walls could speak, this place would have some tales to tell. Nice looking place.

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

    PS: My whole clan and I will be in London next year - its a way off, but we should (finally) have a coffee!

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  20. It is beautiful and yes hope peace prevails!

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  21. Great shots with wonderful composition, angles and texture ~ thanks, carol, xxx

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  22. It's great to see something that is not shown in the big media. Beautiful photos.

    Hazel

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  23. That is a beautiful place and how great to have a place set aside to reconciliation and peace. Great photos.

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  24. What a lovely church. It is a lot bigger on the inside than I would have guessed.

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  25. A perfect post for the day (and beautiful and thought-provoking even though I'm reading it a day later).

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  26. What a lovely place you have shared with us! I'm impressed that it still exists.

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