Centenary Book

St Jude-on-the-Hill is one of the most distinctive of modern English churches. The ecclesiastical masterpiece of Sir Edwin Lutyens, of cathedral-like proportions, and decorated with an extensive mural scheme by Walter Percival Starmer, it expresses the unconventional Christianity of the founders of the model community of Hampstead Garden Suburb and the radical outlook of its early inhabitants. Making use of the church’s own considerable archive as well as recently discovered Starmer papers the Centenary Book celebrates the consecration of the church in 1911 with a close examination of its foundation and early years. It suggests this ordinary parish church was as much a temple to fin de siècle spirituality as to Anglican orthodoxy.

Published in August 2011.

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Jubilee Lunch Sunday 3 June 2012

Photographs by  MELA (Elżbieta Piekacz)  

More Jubilee photos by Mela

At St Paul's on Tuesday 5 June

Mothering Sunday 2012

Members of our Junior Church gave an illustrated presentation about their mothers . . .

and led the Intercessions.

Posies were presented at the end of the service.

Benedict Kearns conducted.

(Re-)visiting the Church were Joan Chester and her family who were all married, baptized or confirmed here. Joan is the daughter of Frank Puffet who was the Clerk of Works for the building of the church a century ago. She recalled the first Vicar, Basil Bourchier, walking down the central aisle during a service giving out sweets to the children!

Joan is also the widow of 'Cheerful' Charlie Chester who lived on the Suburb.

Last seven photos by Sohrab Kavir

The Centenary Book of St Jude-on-the-Hill

Lutyens the Church Architect

Gavin Stamp, architectural historian, writer and broadcaster gave the Michael Rowley memorial talk this afternoon on Lutyens as a Church Architect. Professor Vesna Goldsworthy of the Centre for Suburban Studies at Kingston University responded and chaired the discussion.

50 Years Ago

Half a century ago on 7 May 1961 we celebrated the Golden Jubilee of the Consecration of the Church.. The president and preacher was the Rt Revd Gerald Ellison. Bishop of Chester and later Bishop of London. The Bishop dedicated a bust of the late Revd William Maxwell Rennie (Vicar of St Jude's 1936 - 1954) by his daughter Rosemary, wife of the Charles Proctor the organist. The bust is positioned to the right of the St George's altar beneath the memorial to her brother Michael Rennie who died after rescuing children from the evacuation ship City of Benares which had been sunk as a result of enemy action. The memorial was painted by the church artist Walter Starmer who was present in the congregation on what was probably his last visit to the church.

Mrs Rosemary Proctor with the Bishop and the Vicar

the Revd William Masters.

Click on pictures to enlarge

Saturday 21 May 2011 : Gavin Stamp on Lutyens

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The Centenary : Sanctuary team

Church Warden Jennifer Radice, Hannah Davison, Emma Gregson, David Pope, Vicar, the Bishop of London, Katie El-Balawi, Area Dean Fr Gwyn Clement, Reader Bob Chandler, Mandy Komlosy, Anastasia Walker

All photographs by Cesar Rodriguez-Duran

The Centenary: Behind the scenes

The Area Dean of West Barnet and Rector of St Mary's Hendon Fr Gwyn Clement with the Vicar. Today we also celebrated the 'independence' of the parish of Hampstead Garden Suburb from the ancient parish of Hendon.

Our former scholar Anna Steppler (now organ scholar at Merton College Oxford) meets the Bishop.

Adjusting the microphone

Preparing the incense.

Was that the bell?

Lifting the banners

Signing the service register

Bunter the Vicarage cat (left)

All photographs by Cesar Rodriguez - Duran