More Spires Of City Churches
St Lawrence Jewry, Gresham St
This January, I waited so long for a clear day to take pictures of spires in the City of London that, when we were blessed with one, I could not resist taking as many photographs as possible. Such has been my preoccupation that, in future, I shall always be inclined now to think of clear days early in the year as “ideal weather to photograph church spires in the City.”
Yet there were other obstacles beyond the meteorological that I had to contend with in my quest for spires, not just delivery vans parked in the wrong places and people standing in front of churches making long mobile phone calls, but the over-zealous guard who challenged my motives as I stood with my camera upon the public footpath, suspiciously implying I might have sinister intent in photographing church spires – which could have grave implications for national security. “You realise this is the City of London,” he informed me in explanation of his impertinence, as if I could be unaware.
Fortunately, it is in the nature of photographing church spires that I had no choice but to lift up my eyes above these trifles of life and I was rewarded for my tenacity in the pursuit with all the wonders that you see here. In Rome or any other European capital, such a close gathering of architectural masterpieces would be venerated among the finest treasures of the city. In London, our overfamiliarity with these epic churches means they have become invisible and hardly anyone looks at them. Commonly, the ancient spires are overshadowed by the modern buildings which surround them today, yet I found – in many cases – that the act of focusing attention upon these under-appreciated edifices revealed them newly to my eyes.
St Mary Le Bow, Cheapside
St Margaret’s, Lothbury
St Vedast, Foster Lane
Christchurch Greyfriars, Newgate St
Christchurch Greyfriars, Newgate St
St Mary Le Bow, Cheapside
St Mary Le Bow, Cheapside
St Stephen, Walbrook
Whittington’s Almshouses, College Hill
St James, Garlickhythe
St Michael Paternoster Royal, College Hill
1 & 2 Lawrence Pountney Hill – Built in 1703, these are the finest surviving merchants’ houses in the City.
Churchyard of St Laurence Pountney
St Magnus the Martyr, Lower Thames St
St Dunstan in the East, Idol Lane
All Hallows Staining, Mark Lane
St Botolph’s, Aldgate
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Goodness, the innocent pleasure of taking photographs of architecture is questioned these days! Whenever I visit London, particularly the City, my camera is always busy. Some lovely photographs there and may these wonderful churches continue to stand tall for years to come. I particularly like the spire of St. Mary le Bow church.
I admire your tenacity. Lovely photographs.
Thank you for these magnificent photos . The work you put into them is greatly appreciated . It must get tiresome having to deal with security people trying to prove their jobsworth and repeatedly having to explain to them what you are doing . It doesn’t make it any easier that you would not have any official press documentation to flash in their faces . I know on my former job I had an official ID and it made life a bit easier if I had to hang around and look suspicious. Little would they know when they spoke to you , that they had just questioned a national treasure who was safeguarding their job from greedy developers . “ You are aware this is the City of London? “ Indeed .
Photographs that remind me of “home”. Churches suit the contrast of black and white photography. I was christened in St Giles Cripplegate which I always find very difficult to locate even though I have visited several times. A helpful member of staff from the Barbican Centre directed me and said: ” It’s very famous you know.” I need to visit some of the churches shown here as I have links with others. What is it about over-zealous people who assume there are always rules being broken? “What is this life if, full of care, we have no time to stand and stare.” Apparently, that’s obstructing the footpath!
It must be that you look so much like an anarchist, G.A.! *wink*
I can’t tell you how much I appreciate these photographs. Too often in the City you can’t stand still to look up, or someone will barrel into you while looking down at their phone! Now I can revel in their glory at my desk, with my cup of coffee, in peace, because you have done all the work.
Thank you.
Thank you very much for the beautiful b/w photos of spires!
Love the photo of St Michael Paternoster Royal reflected in the beautiful old window. Brilliant! As always, thank you, G.A.!
Some nice photos of the interiors of the houses in Laurence Pountney Hill can be found at https://www.londonpicturearchive.org.uk/
just search for ‘Pountney’
Thank-you, gentle author, for this wonderful journey around this part of London. I particularly love the merchants’ houses built 320 years ago. How magnificent that they sit there with a bicycle on their steps.
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