Christ Church Spitalfields

Christ Church in Spitalfields, London, is a 1729 masterpiece of Sir Christopher Wren's associate, Nicholas Hawksmoor.

Hawksmoor built only six London churches; this one was commissioned as part of Parliament's 1711 "Fifty New Churches Act." The purpose of the act was to score points for the Church of England against such nonconformists as the Huguenots (French Calvinists).

The area in which Christ Church was built was fast becoming a Huguenot stronghold, as many had fled persecution in France and came to Spitalfields to work in the silkweaving industry. In the churchyard, you can still see some of their gravestones, with epitaphs in French.

As the local silk industry declined, Christ Church fell into disrepair. By 1958 the structure was crumbling and had to be closed; the church reopened in 1987 after complete restoration.

The church's impression of size and strength is reinforced inside by the high ceiling, the sturdy wooden canopy over the west door and the gallery. There's always a fine view of Christ Church's colonnaded portico and tall spire from Brushfield Street to the west.