We’ve wrapped up for the day, thank you to everyone who came and celebrated with us! Special thanks to the Pride of St James’s group, vergers and volunteers who made this happen x
Beautiful blue skies over St James’s and Southwood Garden to mark the longest day of the year ☀️
We know how important green spaces are for everyone, come and enjoy a moment of calm and escape the bustle of Piccadilly, our garden is open 8am-6.30pm throughout the year.
We are currently fundraising £20m for The Wren Project to rejuvenate the church and restore Southwood Garden. You can find out more and donate via the linktree in our bio.
#summer#summertime#sunmersolstice#bluesky#blueskies#foodmarket#urbangreenery#GardensForAGoodCause@project.giving.back
19th June 1954
A new era dawns: 70 years ago today, almost 14 years after the church was devastated during the Blitz, the church was re-dedicated by the Bishop of London, The Rt Rev William Wand, at a service that marked a new beginning for St James’s Church.
Since its destruction, much of the church had been in ruins, except for the south aisle which was given a temporary roof and curtain wall. This served as the parish church from early 1941 until the restoration was complete.
The restoration project began in 1946 driven by the rector, Charles Lambert, and under the direction of architect, Professor Albert Richardson. The work sought to restore the church in a style that was sympathetic to the original design by Sir Christopher Wren, much of which remains to this day. The spire, which had been destroyed in the bombing, was not replaced until much later, finally being installed in 1968.
Sadly, the Rev Lambert, who was so instrumental in the plans for the restoration and the service of re-dedication, died on 1st April 1954. However, his efforts left the church on firm foundations for the future. The next few months of services as well as preachers were already planned. He’d appointed a verger and a Director of Music. Though he died before it was re-consecrated, he did see the work completed and the very first service held in the restored church was his funeral.
Mary Lambert, whose father was rector at the time, recounts the events of that night and her own memories of St James’s Church through the remainder of the war, as well as its eventual rebuilding and reopening. Watch the film here or find link in bio: https://youtu.be/8Ojh_i5jYjo
Picture:
Taken after the service of re-dedication, beside the commemorative stone, which can be found in the courtyard on the northwest corner of the church.
Following the service of rededication The Bishop of London and Lord Mayor of Westminster stand between the churchwardens, Geoffrey Bostock and Janet Scrutton. Standing second from the right is Professor Richardson, who in 1954 also took up the role of President of the Royal Academy.
The secret's out... Over 20 years ago, the Revd Lucy Winkett sang at Madonna's wedding.
This weekend she shared her experience in @guardian to help raise awareness of the important work St James's does and The Wren Project, our fundraising mission to rejuvenate the church and garden to support our social outreach and environmental work.
You can read the fabulous story in full on The Guardian’s website and find out more about The Wren Project via the linktree in our bio. Thank you @_sophiehaydock_ for featuring us.
@madonna@guyritchie@skibocastle@katialabeque#Madonna#MadonnaWedding#GuyRitchie#TheWrenProject#StJamessPiccadilly#Fundraising
Robert talks about this iconic Wren church and the transparent windows designed to admit abundant natural light that we replicated for the RHS Chelsea garden.
“The windows, in a sense, were one of the iconic elements of the building, so what we have done is to incorporate one of the windows into the rear wall of our show garden, and the way that the garden is set up at the showground means the public will actually be able to look through the rear window as well as from the garden side, so the public will be able to both see in and see out.” Robert Myers MA (Cantab), PGDipLA, CMLI, MSGD
#rhschelsea#rhschelseaflowershow
