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The 225 foot triangular spire
of Christ Church, Spitalfields, dominates the surrounding
area.
Built in 1714 - 1729, this Baroque
tour-de-force is the finest of the six London churches created
by Nicholas Hawksmoor (Sir Christopher Wren's most talented
pupil). Christ Church should be viewed from the western
end of Brush-field Street. From here the splendid spire
and the four Tuscan columns on pediments, supporting the arched
roof of the church's portico, look are seen at their best.
Christ Church also looks superb
at night when the floodlit building looms massively above
the warehouses of Commercial Street.
Christ Church, Spitalfields was
commissioned by parliament under the Fifty New Churches Act
of 1711, aimed to combat the spread of Non-Conformism (to
the established Church of England). At that time Spitalfields
was fast becoming a Huguenot stronghold.
The Protestant Huguenots, fleeing
religious persecution in Catholic France, had come to Spitalfields
to work in the local silkweaving industry. It was felt
that an imposing new church in Spitalfields would make a powerful
statement here.
The exterior of the church gives
a great impression of size and strength. This is reinforced
in the interior by the high ceiling and strong wooden canopy
over the west door and the gallery. Hawksmoor's original
plan shows the the gallery extending around the north and
south sides of the church, joining the organ gallery at the
west end. The organ dates from 1735. The royal
coat of arms in Coade stone dates from 1822 (George IV).
In the 19th century the hand
silk weaving industry declined as machinery gradually took
over. As a result Spitalfields became too poor to maintain
Christ Church and the building fell into disrepair.
By 1958 the building was considered
too dangerous to use and closed for worship. Restoration
began in 1964 and Christ Church was finally reopened in 1987.
The crypt has been used to house
recovering alcoholics since 1965.
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