Christ Church, Spitalfields

Christ Church, Spitalfields Review

This is the 1729 masterpiece of Sir Christopher Wren's associate Nicholas Hawksmoor, one of his six London churches. It was commissioned as part of Parliament's 1711 "Fifty New Churches" Act, passed in response to the influx of immigrants with the idea of providing for the religious needs of the "godless thousands"—actually, to ensure they joined the Church of England as opposed to such nonconformist denominations as the Protestant Huguenots. (It must have worked; you can still see gravestones with epitaphs in French in the crypt.) As the local silk industry declined, the church fell into disrepair, and by 1958 the structure was crumbling, with the looming prospect of demolition. But after 25 years—longer than it took to build the church—and a huge local fund-raising effort, the structure was completely restored and is a joy to behold, from the colonnaded Doric portico and tall spire to its soaring, heavily-ornamented English Baroque plaster ceiling. As a concert venue it truly comes into its own. Tours that take you "backstage" to the many hidden rooms and passages, from the tower to the vaults, are offered by appointment. Don't miss the chance to attend one of the classical concerts held year round in this atmospheric ecclesiastical venue.