Community
A Glimpse Into the Past
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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…
- Gallery
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,…
Open guide
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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Past + Present
A Hidden Star of the Big Screen
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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…
- AR
- Listen
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
People
Meet Ninian Comper
Following the death of Father Richard Temple West, funds were raised to create three memorials in his honour.…
- AR
Architecture
The Undercroft
Before the chapel you see today was built, this area of the south aisle served as a mortuary…
- Gallery
Architecture
Mosaics from Italy
The six hexagonal mosaics in the chancel were created by the Venice and Murano Glass and Mosaic Company,…
- Gallery
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.…
- Gallery
Architecture
The Chancel Ceiling
Although the chancel ceiling was long credited to Daniel Bell, conservation work in 2018 revealed it was likely…
Open guide
People
Father Richard Temple West
The first Vicar of St Mary Magdalene’s was Father Richard Temple West, formerly a curate at All Saints,…
- Gallery
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
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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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,…
Open guide
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
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
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…
- AR
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
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,…
- AR