My 8X great grandfather and his family lived in Stepney, East London, in the area of St Dunstan-in-the-East Church for a period of time in the early 1600s and likely worshipped there. The church is mostly gone now but it remains as a tiny park in the midst of the church ruins, in the midst of the city.
There is such a feeling of peace, with trees and vines growing around and out of the foundations, graves, and old walls, such profound quiet in the midst of modern London.
I joined them for awhile, perhaps with my feet resting on the footprints of a long-ago family member, looking up at the windows which he or she might have gazed at, now filled with the lush greenery of nature reclaiming what man built.
The site of St Dunstan's has probably been a church since Saxon times. A church built in the 14th century was nearly destroyed by the Great Fire in 1666. It was patched up and a tower designed by Christopher Wren was completed in 1701. Only the Wren tower and steeple survived the German bombs in The Blitz of 1941. After a decision not to rebuild, the park was opened in 1971.
Posted with Blogsy
Cynthia, that is such an awesome post! I love the architecture, the vines growing, and can feel the silence of the park. So happy that you have traced your ancestry back to this church.
ReplyDeleteThat is one of the most beautiful places I've seen. If I could travel, that is where I would visit first.
ReplyDeleteThe architecture in these pictures is amazing, Cynthia!! I love those windows :)
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful to have traced your ancestry back to that amazing church now park. Thrilling!
ReplyDeleteThe wonders of the internet. I am so pleased they didn't demolish the church as it adds so much to the area and as you say is well used by the local workers as a place of respite.
ReplyDeleteIt's beautiful and I'm amazed that it isn't more over run with people trying to get a peace of quiet from the nearby bustle.
ReplyDeleteHow remarkably novel! Great decision to preserve.
ReplyDeleteColin
How wonderful to think that you're walking the same stones as a long-ago ancestor.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely little spot and great that they have preserved some of the structure.
ReplyDeleteIt must feel a if your relatives are there in spirit moving through the wreckage and amongst the plants.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful place, hard to believe it is in the city. I am glad you got to visit there:)
ReplyDeleteYou could soak up the serenity in that lovely place. I imagine that would be a choice spot for weddings.
ReplyDeleteSuch fabulous shots of antiquity. I love the greenery surrounding/climbing the ancient walls. That second-to-last photo is magical.
ReplyDeleteOh my! What a beautiful place!
ReplyDeleteSoft and dreamy, lovely.
ReplyDeleteIts great to have these green areas in a big city.
ReplyDeleteCynthia it great you have gathered so much information about your ancestors. The place where they lived it is very interesting..
ReplyDeleteWhat a serene looking area. I hope is was for your 8X great-grandfather as well.
ReplyDeleteI can sense the peace from your lovely shots.
ReplyDeleteI am catching back loving reading all your posts after a hectic few weeks... I had to stop and comment at this one! At first it was the beautiful photos that had me lingering, then it was the thought of your footsteps resting in the footprints of your ancestors... and all capped off with a Wren Tower what a brill post - love it!
ReplyDeleteWren x