St Casimir's Lithuanian Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Casimir's Lithuanian Church |
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| Roman Catholic Church of St Casimir | |
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| 51°31′58″N 0°03′34″W / 51.53278°N 0.05944°W | |
| Location | London |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Dedicated | 1912 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Benedict Williamson |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Westminster |
St. Casimir's Lithuanian Church is a special place of worship located in Bethnal Green, a part of London, England. It is a Roman Catholic church that has served the Lithuanian community in London for over a century.
A Look at Its History
The story of St. Casimir's Church began in 1901. At that time, a religious mission was started for Lithuanians living in London. The first church building was on the corner of Christian Street and Cable Street.
About ten years later, a new and bigger church was built. This is the church you see today. It was officially opened on March 10, 1912. A very important church leader, Cardinal Bourne, was there for the opening. The special church service that day was led by Father Benedict Williamson. Interestingly, Father Williamson was also the architect who designed the church building! He created a unique building for the Lithuanian community using London stock brick.
Discovering the Architecture
When you look at St. Casimir's Church, its design is quite clear. It has a main hall called a nave, side sections called aisles, and a special area at the front called a chancel. All these parts fit together within three main sections.
You won't find windows in the side aisles. Instead, there are round windows in the north wall and higher up in the clerestory (the upper part of the nave walls).
The Amazing Altarpiece
The inside of the church is truly impressive, especially because of its huge and colorful altarpiece. This beautiful artwork is carved from wood. It shows the Coronation of Our Lady, which means the crowning of the Virgin Mary.
Many angels are shown around Mary, praying and showing respect. A golden, winged crown floats above her head. Above and behind her, you can see seated figures of Christ and God the Father watching. The The Holy Spirit is shown as a dove, sending out rays of light. These rays reach out to cherubim (angelic beings) who are partly hidden in the clouds that form the background of the whole scene.
Other Artworks
While Father Williamson designed the church, other artists added their own touches. To the right of the altar, there is a beautiful statue of St. Casimir. This statue is a fine piece of art. It was made in 2009 by a famous Lithuanian sculptor named Antanas Žukauskas. He carved it from a type of stone called Ancaster limestone.
