They weren't even open till 1, which meant a relaxed start. Straight up Falcon Road, then Battersea High Street, eventually turning onto Battersea Church Road. Can't miss it. 20 mins in total from my house, walking slowly. I'd never been to Battersea High Street before, which I notice has quite a few eateries, were I so inclined. And a very old school:
It's great to have an excuse to explore your own area, which I don't tend to do. I duly came upon the church, with a cheery "welcome" banner across the gate. More photos here, in the same folder that has yesterday's photos.
It's a very pleasant, Georgian building, with a very pleasant riverside setting, and some lovely staff - or volunteers, I don't know - who were only delighted to welcome all comers, and give us information leaflets. Honestly, I hadn't been expecting much from this visit to a local church, but would you believe, the place was full of surprises!
For a start, although this building dates from the early 1700s, there's probably been a church on the spot from Saxon times. There's an accompanying manor house, long owned by the Spencers. Turner used to sit in the vestry window and paint river views, and William Blake was married here. (There are stained glass windows dedicated to both.)
They have some gorgeous, embroidered kneelers:
And a rather unusual, large stained glass window over the altar depicts, not saints, but Henry VII, his mother, Margaret Beaufort, and his granddaughter, Elizabeth I. Another fascinating snippet from the information sheet described how the dove window to the right was destroyed by a bomb in 1941, but devotedly restored from the fragments in 1946:
Truly, this was a fascinating trip, and more than enough for the day. I love that about Open House - they get you not only to explore new buildings, but also new parts of town - even those just up the road, that you've never before gotten around to.
Handily, Tesco was on my way back, so I bought dinner, and am having a wonderfully quiet evening in. This week is pretty busy - tomorrow, I'm back with London Dramatic Arts, for Father Comes Home from the Wars. A trio of short plays about a black man fighting for the Confederates in the American Civil War, it's a Pulitzer Prize finalist, and showing downstairs at the Royal Court - the very first venue I ever went to with them, as it happens.
On Tuesday, the Man with the Hat is taking Let's Do London - for Less! to Southwark Playhouse for another wartime drama. This one is The Greater Game, based on the true story of a football team, all of whom signed up to fight in the First World War.
Wednesday is Helen's birthday, I've taken the day off, and a few of us are headed for a full day of merriment. The plan as it stands is to start with the Clangers, Bagpuss & Co. Exhibition at the V&A Museum of Childhood, then we've booked a chocolate afternoon tea at Rabot 1745, followed by an evening of Colouring with Cats at Lady Dinah's Cat Emporium.
Thursday is a leaving do at work - taking place at The White House, in Guildford. So I'll take the train to work that day, for once.
Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend, and a well-deserved rest..
Before the following week! Monday sees the long-awaited return of the Crick Crack Storytelling Club, who are at Soho Theatre with The Girl who Married a Dog. Back at last..
Tuesday, I'm back with Kensington Classical Music, for a concert at Asia House - part of the Talent Unlimited Music Futures Festival, for young performers, which runs all week.
Wednesday, the Man with the Hat is taking London for Less Than a Tenner to the Top Secret Comedy Club.
And Thursday sees my second outing of the week, with Kensington Classical Music, to Asia House, for that Talent Unlimited Festival.
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