Events Diary 2008

Visiting the Churches on the Hoo Peninsula and another look at Shurland Hall. See Friends Newsletter August 2008 for full details.
 

The visit start with a tour led by registered Guildhall Art Gallery Guide, Karen Chester, of the City of London's art collection, which ranges from Georgian portraits to Victorian genre paintings and depictions of London life by artists from the 17th century to today. This is followed by a tour, led by Tony Tucker, of the special exhibition The City's Heritage - no longer in the city, a display of items formerly located in the City and now to be found around the UK, the USA, South Africa and Australasia.
 

A guided (pub) walk with Karen Chester

Before the Great Fire of 1666, there were well over 100 churches in the City of London. In more recent centuries fire, war and municipal vandalism have contributed to the disappearance of many more of them. But they haven't vanished entirely if you know where to look. This walk will last about 2½ hours, stopping in 'ye olde pub' along the way.
 

In this year of celebration for the great diarist Samuel Pepys we are delighted to welcome back Andrew Davies. The lecture will be held in St Olave Hart Street famous for its connections with Samuel Pepys and his wife Elizabeth.
 

A guided walk through Restoration London with Karen Chester. Samuel Pepys - you've heard the talk now walk the walk! This walk will last about 2½ hours, with a convivial coffee break along the way.
 

Friends ascend to the triforium by the recently conserved and refurbished geometrical stairs in the south west tower. At the top of the vertiginous ninety-two steps we will pause for breath before taking in, services permitting, the long 'BBC view' of the cathedral from the west gallery. A visit to the Trophy Room where Wren's rejected great model is displayed, is an architectural preliminary to the library chamber itself, where we will view exquisite carved pilasters, a cantilevered gallery and an historic floor.
 

We are hoping to coordinate with churches along the route of the parade that they will be open during the day, providing Watchers if needed. This will give the large numbers of visitors to the City a chance to look inside some splendid churches so often shut on a Saturday.
 

Before Sir Christopher Wren, the dome was virtually unknown in the UK. Wren studied the domes of Paris and ancient Rome and designed six domes churches, plus St Paul's. This walk visits the surviving domes churches and the sites of the others, lost in the 19th century and World War II.

This walk is a repeat, by popular demand, of a walk which took place in March 2007 and will look at a minimum of 14 of Wren's steeples, all within the area between St Paul's and the Bank of England, plus one or two other items of historical interest along the route.
 

Book the date! Location and other details in the November newsletter and on this web site.

Notes

1. For further details of all events please refer to the Friends of City Churches Newsletter or contact the Friends of City Churches, Church of St Magnus the Martyr, Lower Thames Street, London, EC3R 6DN or see Friends newsletter for booking form.

 

2.  Tony Tucker Walks - Please contact Tony direct (see Friends newsletter for contact details)

 

Please note that all of the events are intended for members of the Friends in the first instance. Subject to demand members may bring guests unless otherwise stated. 
 

We list all events here so that interested readers may learn something of our activities.  Further details about the events can be obtained from our Office at the Church of St Magnus the Martyr, Lower Thames Street, telephone (answering service)  (+44) (0)20 7626 1555 or by email

 

For information on events in City churches generally, please see the City Events website.