All Saints Church, Margaret Street
About 100 yards north of Oxford Street in London lies one of the best examples of Victorian Gothic architecture you’ll ever see. It would be easy to miss this church, even though it has one of the highest spires of any church in London. If you don’t look up and see the spire when you stand outside, you could walk straight past. All Saints church is set back from Margaret Street in a small courtyard. Once inside, a world of beauty opens before you.
It was designed by architect William Butterfield in 1850 and completed by 1859. Inside, the walls are covered in spectacular tiled murals. Designed by Butterfield, they were painted by Alexander Gibbs and manufactured by Henry Poole and Sons. The floor tiles are a bold geometric design by Minton. The chancel vault is a deep blue field of stars and the reredos by William Dyce (later copied and replaced by Ninian Comper in the early 1900s when the original had became blackened by the London air) depicts the life of Christ ending at the vault with Christ in Majesty.
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- The spire of All Saints glimpsed from Oxford Street
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- All Saints seen from Margaret Street
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- The chancel and altar
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- Part of the reredos behind the altar
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- Detail of the Crucifixion
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- Christ in Majesty in the vault above the reredos
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- Christ in Majesty (detail)
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- Detail of the roof vault above the chancel
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- Part of the tiled mural on the west wall
If you seek a few moments of peace from the hustle and bustle of London you should seek out All Saints and step inside.
You can see a 360° panorama tour of the church in the main part of my website.
Update – 1/11/2013: All Saints Margaret Street have added the 360° panorama tour to their website.
