St Paul's, Bow Common facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Paul's Bow Common |
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| Church of St Paul's Bow Common | |
View of St Paul's Bow Common
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| Location | corner of Burdett Road & St Paul's Way, Bow Common, Tower Hamlets, London E3 5AR |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Robert Maguire and Keith Murray |
| Style | new brutalism |
| Years built | 1958–60 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | London |
St Paul's Bow Common is a church in Bow Common, London, England. It was built in the 20th century. This church belongs to the Church of England, which is a Christian church. You can find it where Burdett Road and St Paul's Way meet in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.
Before this church, there was an older one built in 1858. That church was badly damaged during the Second World War and was taken down in the 1950s.
Building Design and History
The current church was built between 1958 and 1960. It is considered a very important building in Britain. The architects who designed it were Robert Maguire and Keith Murray.
A special person named Revd. Gresham Kirkby worked closely with the architects. He was a priest who believed in new ideas for church design. He wanted the church to be built in a way that made worship feel more connected and central. St Paul's is known as one of the first churches to use these new ideas. Many people think it's one of the best buildings made in Britain after the war.
Amazing Artworks Inside
When you enter the church, you'll see bold words wrapped around the entrance. They say: 'Truly this is none other but the house of God. This is the Gate of Heaven.' These words are from the Bible (Genesis 28:17). An artist named Ralph Beyer designed them.
Inside, there is a huge mosaic artwork. It covers about 800 square feet! This mosaic was made by Charles Lutyens using tiny pieces of colored Murano glass. It was created between 1963 and 1968. It might be the largest modern mosaic made by an artist in Britain. The church also has another artwork by Lutyens called 'Outraged Christ'.
In 2004, an artist named Rose Finn-Kelcey created an art piece called 'Angel'. It covered the church's front for several months. This artwork won an award for art in a religious place.
Awards and Influence
On November 7, 2013, St Paul's Bow Common won a special award. It was the National Churches Trust Diamond Jubilee Award for the best modern church built in the UK since 1953.
Judges for the award included famous architecture experts. They said the church showed new ideas about Christian worship. They also called it an important guide for how Anglican churches might be designed in the future.
The Church Today
Revd. Gresham Kirkby, who helped design the church, served as its priest until 1994. After him, Revd. Prebendary Duncan Ross was the vicar until 2013. The current vicar is Mother Bernadette Hegarty.
St Paul's is part of a group of Anglican churches in Bow. This group includes Bow Church (St Mary and Holy Trinity), All Hallows, Bow, St Paul's, Old Ford, and St Barnabas Bethnal Green.
