art studio, garden, religious
William White, 1865
aberdeen park, highbury, N5 2AR
High church, Arts & Craft, Grade I listed for its painted walls and beautiful mosaics. Designed and built by William White. The childhood church of John Betjeman. Commemorated in his poem “St Saviours”. Golden mosaic works by Venetian artist Antonio Salviati. The current artists caretaking the building will be present together with some of their work.
Highbury & Islington
Canonbury
19, 263, 4
Private street with no parking permitted.
A quiet place of contemplation with calm gardens in this tranquil corner of Highbury. “Beyond the throb of the engines”
“Great red church of my parents, cruciform crossing they knew —
Over these same encaustics they and their parents trod
Bound through a red-brick transept for a once familiar pew
Where the organ set them singing and the sermon let them nod
And up this coloured brickwork the same long shadows grew
As these in the stencilled chancel where I kneel in the presence of God.
Wonder beyond Time's wonders, that Bread so white and small
Veiled in golden curtains, too mighty for men to see,
Is the Power that sends the shadows up this polychrome wall,
Is God who created the present, the chain-smoking millions and me;
Beyond the throb of the engines is the throbbing heart of all —
Christ, at this Highbury altar, I offer myself to Thee.”
