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St George's Garrison Church. |
I had read quite a bit about St George's Garrison Church and its history, but I had never been to visit it, until now.
As it is only open to the public on Sundays, unless for an exhibition or special event, it has always been difficult to find the time to get there. Fortunately, I was in the area as I had just visited Severndroog Castle, just down the road, which has a viewing platform that is only accessible on, you guessed it, a Sunday.
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One of the church gates. |
It was beautiful noon day as Keilyn and I wandered through the gates into the garden of this ruined church, the sun illuminating the gold mosaic above the altar, ahead of us. The canopy, above the remains, filtered the light making the whole place glow.
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The canopy protecting the ruins. |
The mosaics are stunning, with the St George mosaic being my favourite along with the Victoria Cross Memorial.
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The mosaics glinting in the diffused light. |
The walls, pillars and columns are all still in place creating a wonderful place to reflect.
The gardens, with plaques to the fallen affixed to the walls, were resplendent in the afternoon sun, with a myriad of colours bursting from the well-maintained flower beds. Two benches, along the central path, made the perfect spot to sit and take in our surroundings, which we did.
The Trust have more plans that they are hoping to see completed soon, which means that I will be returning to this special place again, very soon.
Brief History
The chapel within the Royal Artillery Barracks was opened in 1808 and, following the opening of the new chapel, was converted into a theatre.
The Secretary of State for War, Lord Sidney Herbert, had an idea for a new garrison church and employed Thomas Henry Wyatt and his brother Matthew Digby Wyatt to design the church. Their forebear, James Wyatt, had designed the Royal Artillery Barracks and the Royal Military Academy.
Construction began in 1862 and was completed in 1863, with the church being built in the Romanesque-Byzantine Revival style and could hold 1,550 people.
The capacity was increased to around 1,700, shortly after completion.
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Mosaics above an arched doorway. |
Over the years the Royal Artillery Officers raised money for stained glass windows, an organ and various embellishments, such as mosaics and memorials for deceased artillery men.
The church was first bombed during World War I, when the the rose window and all of the stained glass was lost.
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Some of the mosaics have been lost. |
On July 13, 1944, a V-1 flying bomb hit the church, destroying the roof and the ensuing fire gutting the interior. The chapel of St Michael and All Angels at the Royal Military Academy was then used for services, leaving the garrison church to fall into disrepair.
In 1954, ten years after the destruction of the church, the architect Kenneth Lindy proposed rebuilding the church, but failed to gain the support and finances required.
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Parts of the ruin. |
In 1970, a corrugated roof was erected over the apse, while parts of the walls were demolished. The nave and aisles, having no roof, were transformed into a memorial garden.
In 1973 the building was Grade II listed.
With ownership transferring from the Defence Infrastructure Organisation to the Heritage of London Trust Operations, in 2011, campaigning began for more funding to save the ruin.
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The Memorial Gardens. |
The Heritage Lottery Fund issued a grant of £400,000, which was half of the cost needed, to begin restoration work that included the building of a larger canopy roof.
The Woolwich Garrison Church Trust has run the church since 2016, revealing further plans to restore the pulpit and to reinstall the alabaster panels in the apse, which are currently being stored for safety.
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"We will remember them'" |
They are also creating a Commonwealth & Gurkha Garden, in the near future.
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