Heritage Hub
Stories from Grand Junction
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People
Meet the Architect: George Edmund Street
A Gothic Revival Architect at the Height of His Powers George Edmund Street (1824–1881), born in Woodford, Essex,…
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Architecture
The Nave Ceiling
Look up, and you’ll see one of the church’s most extraordinary features: the painted nave ceiling, created by…
- Gallery
Architecture
Faces of the Stained Glass Windows
Henry Holiday’s Saints, Painted with the Faces of Victorian London. Henry Holiday’s stained-glass windows are full of borrowed…
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Architecture
A Seat for Everyone
St Mary Magdalene’s Church was never fitted with fixed pews. Instead, it was furnished with moveable chairs, a…
- Gallery
Architecture
A Cross of Memory
The painted wooden sculpture of Jesus on the Cross with Mary Magdalene was carved by Harry Hems (1842–1916),…
- Gallery
Architecture
The Windows of St Mary Magdalene’s Church
The stunning stained-glass windows in the nave and chancel were designed by Henry Holiday (1839–1927), a painter, sculptor,…
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People
Victorian parishioner, Sarah Smith
We looked at the 1891 census for Clarendon Street, which once stood just north of St Mary Magdalene’s,…
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Past + Present
Modern Use
A short film showing the building in use across a typical week. Grand Junction is a vibrant multi-arts…
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People
Father Richard Temple West
The first Vicar of St Mary Magdalene’s was Father Richard Temple West, formerly a curate at All Saints,…
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Architecture
The Chancel Ceiling
Although the chancel ceiling was long credited to Daniel Bell, conservation work in 2018 revealed it was likely…
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People
The Sculptor: Thomas Earp
Thomas Earp (1828–1893), often referred to as “Street’s hands,” was the trusted sculptor of architect George Edmund Street.…
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Architecture
Mosaics from Italy
The six hexagonal mosaics in the chancel were created by the Venice and Murano Glass and Mosaic Company,…
- Gallery
Architecture
The Undercroft
Before the chapel you see today was built, this area of the south aisle served as a mortuary…
- Gallery
People
Meet Ninian Comper
Following the death of Father Richard Temple West, funds were raised to create three memorials in his honour.…
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Architecture
Preserving a Special Chapel
In the undercroft of St Mary Magdalene’s is the Holy Sepulchre Chapel: “a magical place, too hard of…
- Gallery
Past + Present
Listen to the Medieval Music
Lining the chapel walls is music for Easter Day and for the feast of St Mary Magdalene, celebrated…
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- Listen
Past + Present
A Hidden Star of the Big Screen
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People
Oral Histories
Collecting first-hand accounts of people’s experiences, memories and perspectives is a unique and impactful way to deepen insight…
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Conservation
Building Grand Junction
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Past + Present
Living Heritage
Since 2017, Grand Junction’s Heritage Volunteers have been uncovering the history of the building and the wider Paddington…
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Community
A Brief History of North Paddington
Before 1800 this was farmland. Westbourne Green and Westbourne Farm sat among fields, with cows grazing on them,…
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Architecture
Gothic Revival and Anglo-Catholicism
An introduction to Gothic Revival St Mary Magdalene’s is a stunning Grade I listed example of Gothic Revival…
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Architecture
The War Memorial at St Mary Magdalene’s
The cast iron crucifix outside St Mary Magdalene’s is a rare sight in England, a striking First World…
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Community
A Glimpse Into the Past
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Every story below lives in one place. Read, watch, listen and zoom from wherever you are — or unlock the same stories in Augmented Reality when you visit the building in person.
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Browse every story by theme — architecture, people, origins and more. Each one is ready to read, with video, audio and zoomable detail where it exists. Nothing here needs you to be on-site.
AT THE VENUE
The Digital Guide
Standing in the building? Follow the numbered map and point your phone to meet the architect and parishioners in Augmented Reality, right where they belong. The same stories — brought to life in place.