Was Sir Charles Stanford a fan of funerals? It seems a bit morbid standing here at 56 Hornton Street, gazing at his blue plaque, but there’s a story here. This is the former home of the famous Irish composer, Sir Charles Villiers Stanford. The plaque, erected in 1961, commemorates his time here from 1894 to 1916. Stanford, a prominent figure in British music, wasn’t known for his morbid humor. He was a celebrated teacher at the Royal College of Music, shaping future legends like Gustav Holst and Ralph Vaughan Williams. He was a traditionalist, skeptical of modernism, his teachings grounded in classical principles. But back to that story. One of his students, Craig Sellar Lang, once arrived for his lesson with a new composition, a six-part Motet. Stanford, perhaps needing his afternoon tea and a stroll, glanced at it, tossed it aside, and launched into a lecture on musical modes. Later, while walking past an undertaker’s shop, Stanford nudged Lang and quipped, “Take it in there, me boy.” A brutal critique, delivered with a dose of dark humor. The Sir Charles Stanford Blue Plaque reminds us not only of his legacy but also that even the greats had a wicked sense of humor.
Southfields Methodist Church
Curiosity stirred within the heart of Southfields as a new chapter began. Southfields Methodist Church held its first public service