Church of Christ the King, Bloomsbury, London
The Church of Christ the King was built for the Catholic Apostolic Church in the 1850s. This church denomination was also known as the “Irvingites”, named after the Scottish minister Edward. Irving, who was a forerunner of their movement. Along with others, Irving encouraged the use of re-discovered charismatic gifts as part of a prophetic interest in the near return of Christ. Irving died in 1834 is also seen as a forerunner of the 20th-century Charismatic Renewal. The Catholic Apostolic Church was formed in 1835 to continue this work. It eventually faded away with as the expected return of Christ did not occur. This building was handed over to an Anglican Chaplaincy in the 1960s. It is now used by Euston Church, an evangelical church plant within the Church if England. It is also used by “Forward in Faith”, a traditional high church Anglican group.
St Anne’s, Limehouse, London
The church dates from the early 1700s, built to minister to London’s expanding population. It is one of a number known as “Queen Anne” churches, all built for the same reasons during her reign. Many churches are started to deal with population migration and expansion. The building has undergone various restorations due to fire and safety concerns. More recently, the church has found new mission fields among the changing demographics of the East End of London with an influx of professionals associated with the redevelopment of the London docklands. Church can survive and thrive if they adapt to changes in population.
St Benet Paul’s Wharf
St Benet is also called the Welsh Metropolitan Church. It started life the 12th century, but the building was burnt down in the Great Fire of London. It was rebuilt by Wren and, as it survived the Blitz intact, is a well-preserved original of the architect. However, the church was almost closed and demolished in the 1870s due to a dwindling congregation. It was saved by Queen Victoria who granted it to the Welsh people of London who had been petitioning her for a Welsh-speaking Anglican church. Following the disestablishment of the Church in Wales, it is now the only Church of England church in the Welsh language. The church has seen many important people in its history. It even gets a mention in Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night”. However, its chief importance is as a living worshipping church that has endured for many hundreds of years.
St Botolphs without Aldersgate, London
This present building of St Botolphs dates from 1788-91. It is thought that there has been a church on this site for over a thousand years. It became a guild church in the 1950s which means it no longer has a parish or its own Sunday services. However, the church still has a ministry. Firstly, they run midweek talks for people sceptical about Christianity – the Aldersgate talks. These are run by people on the reformed wing of the Church of England. Secondly, the London City Presbyterian Church meets here each Sunday. They are a congregation of the Free Church of Scotland. St Botolphs is an example of a “redundant” church that is anything but redundant, having a lively cross-denominational Christian ministry.
The Mission, Limehouse, London
The Mission, formerly the British Sailors Society, now apartments.
Closed Church, Morecambe, England.
An unknown church in Morecambe, England, clearly closed with a for sale sign displayed. Photo taken 2013. Someone has daubed “Revelation 18” on the side, a passage that refers to the fall of “Babylon”. In Revelation Babylon refers directly to the Roman Empire, but can be interpreted as any corrupt, worldly system. Rev 18:4, says: “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.” My guess is the dauber attributed church decline to its compromise with the world.
St Bartholomew’s Church Grimley Worcestershire
The church is located in the village of Grimley, about 3 miles north of Worcester. Parts of the building are Norman, indicating the many centuries that the church has been based in this community. I have a personal interest in this church as one of my great-great-grandfathers (and his family) was there. Indeed he appeared to be a churchwarden or clerk. His name is on many entries in the wedding registers in the middle part of the 19th century. He is buried by the gate into the churchyard. I have not been able to determine whether it had ever been a stand-alone parish. Now (2022), it is grouped with other nearby parishes in “The Churches of Hallow and Grimley with Holt and Lower Broadheath. This grouped strategy is typical of village churches where attendance numbers have dwindled. St Bartholomew Only has two services a month, one in the evening and one in the morning. The group is effectively one congregation split between four buildings, incurring huge maintenance costs. The buildings are historical and cannot just be jettisoned. Each is only convenient for a section of the congregation. An unenviable task. Yet, with unpaid leadership, and a commitment to mission by all the people, it would be possible to get back to four viable churches with God’s help.