On site of an ancient church stands its modern successor, and a most curious set of modern stained glass windows.

This is Christ Church Southwark, and there has been a church on the site since it was all fields around here, at least since the 1670s.

The original church was paid for by a charitable foundation set up by John Marshall, a baker, and that charity, the Marshall’s Charity still functions to this day, supporting the restoration of old churches, and local students in Southwark.

Sitting on some £20 million in assets, in 2016 they gave some £831,000 in grants and other forms of support.

But, back in 1671, Christchurch was built by the charity, but it was totally destroyed by enemy action during WW2 and re-built in 1960, and remains in the ownership of the Charity, who also retain the patronage of the benefice.

The current church, the 3rd on the site is done in stern brickwork to the designs of R Paxton Watson. It contains contemporary stained glass by Frederick W Cole and later work by others, it is now a listed building, principally for its stained glass.

Industrial Missions were established by the church in the mid C20 to provide ministry to workplaces. This association between the church and the world of work is why it is now noted for the very modern stained glass windows, depicting some of London’s most famous buildings and conveying a particular iconographical message about celebrating ordinary lives

Each window comprises two panels, the larger at the top portrait-orientated above a smaller panel in a landscape orientation, between which is a cartouche bearing emblems associated with each theme.

The attention to detail is remarkable. In the window featuring the Routemaster, for example, the bus stop lists the numbers 4, 45 and 63 buses as stopping there; the latter two buses still stop outside the church.

Bus route 4 stopped serving the area in 1966, just six years after the stained glass window had been completed.

There is interest in the depiction of some of London’s most famous historic places, including St Paul’s Cathedral, Bankside Power Station (now Tate Modern) and the River Thames.

Also worth noting is the unusual backdrop to the altar, a mural depicting Wall Street in New York, originally made for a National Theatre production; ‘New Regime’ of 1989.

If the inside isn’t enough, wander out around the back, where a – sadly not in use — water fountain still remains, but look for the cross in the grass.

No random placing, it marks where the cross fell when the old church was bombed during WW2, and the cracked stones are symbolic of the flames the cross fell in.

You can find Christchurch on Blackfriars Road, just to the north of Southwark tube station.

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6 comments
  1. Gwyn says:

    I don’t think it’s a Routemaster; closer to something older.

  2. Phil says:

    Work just up the road,have passed it often & given it little thought, will have a better look soon. Thanks Ian visits

  3. John U.K. says:

    I thought the glass might have been the work of W.T.Carter-Shapland, who was responsible for a large amount of post-war glass in London churches rebuilt after bomb damage, but http://www.stainedglassrecords.org/Ch.asp?ChId=16736
    tells me otherwise.

  4. Daily royal says:

    I have been going to this church in Southwark for the past 7 years. Lovely place.

  5. Ann says:

    Never been and now it’s on my list of London churches.

  6. David Dunn says:

    Recently found out that my grandmother married in this church in April 1899.
    Visited the church (not open) on Saturday 7th April.

    She lived at the time in Isabella Street, just down the road.
    Next time in London will try and get inside.However really appreciate your photos.

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