Parish Church of St. Dunstan and All Saints

Parish Church of St. Dunstan and All Saints
Stepney, London Borough of Tower Hamlets
Province of Canterbury

Church Poster

"St Dunstan's, Stepney is an Anglican Church which stands on a site that has been used for Christian worship for over a thousand years. It is located in Stepney High Street, in Stepney, London Borough of Tower Hamlets.

Bell Tower

"In about AD 952 the Bishop of London — who is also Lord of the Manor of Stepney — replaced the existing wooden structure with a stone church dedicated to All the Saints. In 1029, when Dunstan was canonised, the church was rededicated to St Dunstan and All Saints, a dedication it has retained.

"Up until the early fourteenth century the church served the whole of Middlesexeast of the City of London. Then new churches were built at Whitechapel and Bow. The existing building is the third on the site and was built of Kentish ragstone mainly in the fifteenth century (although the chancel dates from 200 years earlier). A porch and octagonal parish room were added in 1872.

"The church was restored extensively in 1899, at a cost of £5,600. The vestries and some of the main building were destroyed by fire on 12 October 1901, including the organ which had carvings by Grinling Gibbons. The restoration cost £7,084,^[1] and the church was re-opened in June 1902 by the Bishop of Stepney (at that time Cosmo Gordon Lang.

Church Bell Tower

"The ring of ten bells, the heaviest weighing 28¾ hundredweight, which hang in the belfry, were cast at the local Whitechapel Bell Foundry and are tuned to C#. The seven oldest bells were cast by Thomas Mears and Son, Whitechapel, in 1806. The bells were re-hung in 1899.^[1] Three were recast in 1952 when repairs were made to the tower.^[3] The bells are mentioned in the nursery rhyme Oranges and Lemons: "When will that be, say the bells of Stepney."

Parish Church of St. Dunstan and All Saints

"A fine triple Sedilia is found in the chancel.The rood is late Anglo Saxon. Of note amongst the plate is a cup and patten dated 1559 and a beadles's staff and vergers wand of 1752.

"The church is surrounded by a churchyard of nearly seven acres (28,000 m²). In 1658 William Greenhill was appointed vicar whilst retaining his position as a preacher at Stepney Meeting House. He held this post for about seven years, till he was ejected immediately after the Restoration in 1660.

"Shortly after this, the churchyard was enlarged to cope with the massive number of deaths during the Great Plague of London. In one eighteen-month period 6,583 died, with 154 being buried in one day in September 1665.

"The church has a long, traditional link with the sea and many sailors were buried here. It was once known as the 'Church of the High Seas'. The graveyard is also where Roger Crab, the 17th-century hermit who lived on a diet solely of herbs, roots, leaves, grass and water, is buried." (Link 1.)

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Photos: Taken in 2018 by RW with his iPhone while travelling in

                 London from his home in Switzerland.

Link 1" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Dunstan%27s,_Stepney

Link 1" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Dunstan%27s,_Stepney

                                                                    Prayer

God, be with persecuted Christians throughout the world. Amen (SW.)

Esglesia de Sant Pere Church

Esglesia de Sant Pere
Figueres, Girona Catonia, Spain

Tower Detail

"Figueres ... Catalan for fig trees) is the capital of the comarca of Alt Empordà, in the province of Girona, Catalonia, Spain. (Located in north eastern Spain.)

"The town is the birthplace of artist Salvador Dalí, and houses the Teatre-Museu Gala Salvador Dalí, a large museum designed by Dalí himself which attracts many visitors. It is also the birthplace of Narcís Monturiol, inventor of the first successful machine-powered submarine. Also born here was Mónica Naranjo, one of the best selling Spanish singers of the 1990s and 2000s. 

"The town's name derives from that of Ficaris, of Visigoth origin. In 1267, King James I of Aragon conceded it fuero rights, but four years later Count Ponç IV of Empúries set the town on fire. During the Spanish Civil War, it remained loyal to the Republican government, and was repeatedly bombed by the rebels. Figueres recovered starting from the 1950s, consolidating its economy around the tourism industry." (Link 2.)

Church Plaque

"The church of Sant Pere de Figueres is the church , parochial, mostly Gothic style that is located in the square of Sant Pere de Figueres .It is a religious building of Gothic origin. The façade is very simple with contemporary rosette and eardrum. The interior has a single nave, with chapels occupying the lateral buttresses. It has an octagonal dome and rebuilt belfry type fortification, the main apse and two sides: one is a tabernacle and the other sacristy. In the lateral right side there is a porch with three pointed arches, of later invoice. The natural lighting is achieved by two rosettes in the arms of the cruise, and that of the ship; and through the stained glass windows of the central apse.

Sant Pere Church Nave and Altar

"The first mention is 1020 and around it was built the medieval center of Figueres. It was probably built on a primitive paleo-christian church. From the early Romanesque temple (X-XI centuries) there are remains of the walls of the north face with a bush to the left of the nave, at the foot of the bell tower. In the 14th century, the Gothic temple rises over the Romanesque building. This new building reached the present cruise and was of a single ship with vaults of crevasses and buttresses, without a cruise or girola. 

Apse Windows

"In 1578 the façade was rebuilt, in a neoclassical style, where there is a great bull's eye that gives birth to the whole ship. Subsequently, it has undergone numerous extensions (in 1678 the Capella dels Dolors began on the north side) and modifications. In the eighteenth century the old gothic header is replaced by a cruiseand a polygonal apse. At the end In 1895 the dome was built according to a project by the architect Josep Azemar i Pont . 

Church Relic

"During the Civil War the church suffers from major destructions (fires and demolitions). In 1941 Amadeo Llopart, Enric Mora and Josep Maria Sagarra, from Barcelona, made the project for the restoration of the temple. Between 1941 and 1948 it was reconstructed with stone ashlars, the cruise crowned by the octagonal dome , following the gothic style of the old ship, thus achieving a unified, sober and monumental set. From the original Gothic temple the nave is conserved with the vaults of crevasse and the buttresses. 

Town Square Sculpture

"In this church Salvador Dalí was baptized"( Link 1.) 

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Photos: Taken in 2018 by RW with his iPhone while travelling in

                 Spain from his home in Switzerland.

Link 1: https://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sant_Pere_de_Figueres (Translation.)

Link 2: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Figueres

                                                                    Prayer

God, be with persecuted Christians throughout the world. Amen (SW.)

.

Link 1: https://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sant_Pere_de_Figueres (Translation.)
Link 2: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Figueres

St. Agnes Anglican Church 75th Anniversary Church Plate
North Vancouver, B.C. Canada

2019 INDEX

CANADA

 B.C.,Kimberly-Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 9/8/19.

 . 

 ENGLAND

London-All Hallows Church By The Tower, 6/30/19.
London- St. Paul's Anglican Cathedral, 7/14/19.
London-St. Mary Cable Street Church of England, 7/28/19.
 London-St. Dunstan & All Saints the Parish Church of Stepney, 8/11/19.
London- London Airport Chapel, Gatwick Airport, 8/25/19.

ITALY

Bergamo- Chiesa  Di San Leonardo, 5/19/19

Rome-Santa Maria Della Concezione, 1/6/19.

MALLORCA

Palma-Churches of Palma, 10/20/19.

Pollenca-Calvary Church, 10/6/19.
Alcudia-Santa Anna Church, 11/3/19.

MEXICO

Puerto Vallarta-Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe ,12/1/19.

SICILY

Catania- Catania Airport Chapel, 5/5/19.
 Catania- Chiesa di Sant' Agostino Church, 6/2/19.

 Catania-Chiesa San Cristoforo, 4/14/19.

Catania-Sant'Agata Cathedral, 3/31/19.   
 Catania-Train Station Chapel, 2/3/19.
Siracusa- Santa Luca Alla Badia Church,  4/28.19.   
Syracusa, Basilica Santuario Madona Delle,  Lacrime,  2/17/19.     
 Syracusa-Chiesa Parrocchia  San Tommaso  Pantheon, 1/20/19.

SPAIN

Girona, Catalonia-Girona Cathedral/Cathedral of St. Mary of Girona,  11/17/19.

USA

Remembrance Day The Wall, 11/10/19.

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Photos: Taken by RW while traveling in Europe 2019.

Church Plate: Part of Suzanne's "Church Plate" collection.

Basilica de la Concepcio

Basilica de la Concepcio

Barcelona, Spain

Church Plaque

"The Basilica of the Immaculate Conception and Assumption of Our Lady is a basilica in Barcelona, Catalonia. The church originated as the Jonqueres Monastery, that was moved stone by stone when the land of the monastery was to be demolished. In 1879, a bell tower was added from the church of San Miguel which was also going to be demolished. The rectory stands on the left side of the bell tower and is a historicist building built at the end of the 19th century. On 20 February 2009, Pope Benedict XVI granted the title of minor basilica to the church, which became the eighth basilica in the city." (Link 1.)

Nave and Altar

"Basilica-Església de la Puríssima Concepció
Built: 1293-1448
Founded: 1214
Function: Parish church; minor basilica; former monastic community
Address: Aragó 299

"The parish church of the Immaculate Conception and Assumption of Our Lady is Barcelona’s newest basilica, bringing the city’s present total to eight. Named by Pope Benedict XVI on the Feast of the Assumption 2009, it is actually one of the city’s oldest existing ecclesiastical buildings. The story of how it arrived at its present status, despite years of neglect, decline, and near-demolition, is a testimony to its parishoners and to the faithful in Barcelona to not only have this beautiful structure survive, but thrive.

Rear of Sanctuary

"The original monastic community of Benedictine sisters of Sant Vicenç de Jonqueres was founded in 1214 in the town of the same name, located just outside of Sabadell, a city situated about 10 miles from Barcelona. Apparently the sisters had some problems getting organized, and in 1261 following appeal to the Bishop of Barcelona, they were invited to move to that city. The nuns left their quarters in Jonqueres temporarily for Sabadell in 1273, while suitable buildings were located. The actual move was not completed until 1293, when the nuns took up residence on what is now the Carrer de Jonqueres, on the edge of the Gothic Quarter.

Side Altar

"Their new convent was named Santa Maria de Jonqueres, recalling their origin but distinguishing themselves from the parish of Saint Vincent where they had experienced so many problems. By 1300, with the construction of the first permanent chapel on the site, the convent was officially renamed Sant Jaume de l’Espasa, since the nuns had adopted the Rule of St. James of the Sword, better-known as the famous religious-military order of Santiago. However, the community continued to be referred to colloquially as Santa Maria de Jonqueres.

Side Altar

"The community quickly becae associa
ted with the daughters of the noble families of Barcelona, and grew extremely wealthy. Their original holdings were enormous, covering numerous square blocks of the old city. The two-story cloister was completed before 1400, and in 1448 the consecration of the enormous Catalan Gothic monastic chapel, which replaced the simpler version that had been built between 1293-1300, took place with great fanfare.

:"The nuns were expelled and their community dissolved in 1810, during the Napoleonic period, and in 1820 the convent was converted into a military hospital. The site subsequently became a prison, and still later a military depot. In 1867, the chapel itself was named a parish by the Archdiocese, dedicated to the Immaculate Conception and Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the remains of the convent, which were in very poor repair by this time, were finally torn down in 1868.

Side Altar

"During Barcelona’s expansion in the mid-19th century, the complex was slated for demolition because it lay along a proposed route to connect the northern part of the new city to the seafront. Fortunately, due to foresight by the Archdiocese and the local gentry, between 1869 and 1871 the former chapel and the cloister were moved, stone by stone, from their original location in the Gothic Quarter to their present site in the Eixample, the 19th century grid-like district which houses much of Barcelona’s famous 19th and 20th century buildings. The church was then re-consecrated in 1872 and became the first parish in this new district of the city. In 1879, when the Church of St. Michael was torn down in order to make way for the expansion of City Hall, the portal of the church went to the Basilica of La Mercè, but the bell tower was given to the parish of La Concepció." (Link 2.)

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Photos: Taken in 2018 by RW with his iPhone while travelling in

                 Spain from his home in Switzerland.

Link 1: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_of_the_Immaculate_Conception_(Barcelona)

Link 2: https://catholicbarcelona.com/2014/03/01/la-concepcio-updated/

                                                                    Prayer

God, be with persecuted Christians throughout the world. Amen (SW.)

Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe 
 Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe 

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe

"Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe, known locally as La Iglesia de Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe,^[1] is a church building in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico. The church has been called "one of the most endearing" of the city's landmarks.^[1] It is open daily, with services in English available on Saturdays and mass in both Spanish and English on Sundays.

"The church tower is topped with a wrought-iron crown hoisted by angels designed to resemble one worn by Empress Carlota of Mexico." (link 1.)

Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Entrance

"Perto Vallarta's Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish (Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe) is a city icon, it dominates Vallarta's downtown skyline and is one of the favorite symbols and landmarks of the city, not only in photos but also shirts, logos and postcards.

"...one of the most important city monuments and the spiritual center of the Catholics in town (religion in Vallarta).

"

There is always activity around and within the church, the church bells are rung by the sextants 30 and 15 minutes prior to each service, but it reaches almost a level of frenzy in the 12 days of the Our Lady of Guadalupe Festival (also known as Feast of Guadalupe), held every year from December 1st to the 12th.

"During these festivities you'll notice a mix of both traditional Christian and Aztec motifs, young warriors dance in the streets, processions advance through the streets and include lots of banners, music, singing, and colorfully decorated floats mainly with scenes that include the Virgin and Juan Diego, commemorating the miraculous apparition of the Virgin of Guadalupe to the Indian peasant called Juan Diego on December 12th, 1531. These festivities are attended by tens of thousands, locals and visitors.

 "The foundations of the church were started in 1903, but at the time there was already a small chapel there dedicated to Virgin Guadalupe. In 1915 father Francisco Ayala arrived and he, with foresight, suggested that a bigger temple than the one that had been designed be built instead.

Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Interior

Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Altar

"... existing foundations were strengthened and finished by 1917, including the main pillars and walls. Construction really started earnestly in the early 1920s around the still functioning chapel, including the blessing of the "eucaristía", the main bell. The official start date, celebrated at the church each year with a mass, is October 12, 1921.

"Construction work halted completely in 1926 when a conflict between church and state escalated to outright war, known as the Cristero War, which ended in 1929.

"Church construction started in 1930 with the beginning of the dome. By 1940 the entire building was finished, except the two towers.

"December 12, 1951, the chancel and the Hammond organ installed in it were used for the first time (notice the date). The father at that time, Rafael Parra wanted the main tower finished at that date, but this wouldn't be the case until 

1952.

Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Crown at Night

"The crown" the Parish, what better t han a crown. It was placed on the main tower in 1965 (based on the city historian, Carlos Munguía Fregoso) and was sketched by the priest Rafael Parra Castillo, the same person who designed the tower. The original crown was designed and sculpted by José Esteban Ramírez Guareño in 1965.

"The crown IS NOT, as normally found online, a replica of one supposedly worn by Carlota, the mistress of Emperor Maximilian in the 1800's, which furthermore - as explained on the Parish website - only would have been a tiara based on her hierarchy within the nobility.

Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Tower At Night

"...finally finished in 1987 and what we know as the Our Lady of Guadalupe church was finally ready.

"The church itself, not a cathedral, as many name it (it's not presided by a Bishop), is not really a sophisticated architectural design, it's a mix of styles that is result of the different parish priests' tastes and ideas that appeared along the way, elements are neoclassic, like the main building, the crown is reminiscent of baroque European temples, the side towers have a renaissance touch, and so on. "(Link 2.)

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Photos: Taken in November 2019 by Amy Wilson while on holiday in 

                Puerta Vallarta, Mexico.  Thank you.

Link 1: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_Our_Lady_of_

Guadalupe_(Puerto_Vallarta)

Link 2: https://www.puertovallarta.net/what_to_do/our-lady-of-guadalupe-church

(Also see Blog Post 12/1/13 with photos by Suzanne Wilson.)