St Paul’s Bow Common

Look closely at this building before you. This is St Paul’s Bow Common, an Anglican church in London that stands as a powerful symbol of resilience and innovation. This church was designed by architects Robert Maguire and Keith Murray during the 1950s in a style known as New Brutalism. The church was built where a previous church stood, one that was built in 1858 and destroyed during World War II. The war had a profound impact on the surrounding area, and the need for a new church to serve the community was felt strongly. The new St Paul’s Bow Common, designed by Maguire and Murray, was consecrated in 1960. St Paul’s Bow Common is not your typical Victorian Gothic church. It features a central altar and a minimum of division between the priest and people. It’s unique for its central plan and its absence of traditional windows. The church’s bold and minimalist design embodied the Liturgical Movement principles, a reform movement in the Church of England that sought to make worship more active and communal. The architects even used concrete walls and a steel ‘corona’ suspended from the roof. This unusual design made St Paul’s Bow Common stand out from other churches in London. It became considered by many to be a significant post-war church in Britain. But it’s not just the architecture that’s worth taking in. St Paul’s Bow Common houses an impressive 800-square-foot mosaic by Charles Lutyens, the great-nephew of the renowned architect Edwin Lutyens. The mosaic, “Angels of the Heavenly Host,” was installed between 1963 and 1968 and is one of the largest artist-created contemporary mosaic murals in Britain! It’ll take you some time to see all the details. The angels are there to greet you. They’re not only a great example of the artistic talent of the time, but are a beautiful addition to this church and also represent the hope and beauty that can emerge from challenging times. A must-see for anyone visiting London, St. Paul’s Bow Common is a reminder that even in times of hardship, communities can find ways to rebuild, innovate, and create something truly special.