Did that bell tower just sway? It might be the legacy of the Great Fire of London, still etched into St Michael’s very bones. Right here in Cornhill, you’re standing before a survivor. St Michael’s Church has a spirit as resilient as the city itself. Imagine, a church mentioned as far back as 1055, a time when London was a shadow of its future self. Sadly, that early structure fell victim to the flames in 1666, along with so much else. But from the ashes, St Michael’s rose again. What you see now, this blend of architectural styles, tells a tale of rebirth and reinvention. The main building, attributed to Sir Christopher Wren, embodies that classic 17th-century style. But look up at that tower. Notice the Gothic flair? That’s the handiwork of Nicholas Hawksmoor, completed in 1722. That makes St Michael’s a bit of an architectural hybrid. Inside, the Victorian era left its mark. Sir George Gilbert Scott orchestrated a grand makeover in the 1850s, adding ornate details and a touch of Gothic romance. Yet, St Michael’s holds onto whispers of an even older past. Beneath our feet lie remnants of a Roman basilica, a reminder that London’s story stretches back centuries before even the first church stood here. As you leave St Michael’s, let those bells ringing out over Cornhill be a reminder: even in the face of great change, the spirit of London endures.
Southfields Methodist Church
Curiosity stirred within the heart of Southfields as a new chapter began. Southfields Methodist Church held its first public service