la bella vita

Church of Our Lady Before Tyn

Old Town Square, Prague

September 2012

Facade of the Santa Maria Novella

Firenze, September 2012

Gaudi’s masterpiece, la Sagrada Familia

August 2012

Ensemble Conventuel des Jacobins, Toulouse.

Of the ‘big three’ of Toulouse’s wonderful churches, for me Les Jacobins took the cake. Not overtly large, the nave is exceptionally high, supported down its length by seven columns, leading into magnificent gothic vaulting.

St Thomas Aquinas is interred under the altar, yet the star attraction is not the author of the Summa Theologica, but the wonderful tall stained glass windows that run the length of the nave, flooding the church in beautiful coloured light.

In Oude Kerk

Amsterdam, February 2012

Organ in Oude Kerk

Amsterdam, February 2012

Church framed by branches

Amsterdam, February 2012

Rear of Saint Nicholas Church, across the canal

Amsterdam, February 2012

Inside Eglise Saint-Eustache 

Paris, February 2012

Inside Eglise Saint-Eustache

Paris, February 2012

Ms Mathews at Église Saint-Sulpice

Paris, December 2011

December 28th 2011

Hunter Square, Edinburgh

December 2011

Trafalgar Square with St Martin-in-the-Fields in the background, London

November 2011

St Martin-in-the-Fields, a Protestant church, was designed by the Roman Catholic Scot James Gibbs.  Whilst listed in various places as a ‘must see’ travel destination, I found the church itself to be rather bland - although it was very well maintained.  

Gibbs’ earlier work at St Mary-le-Strand, one of the two ‘island’ churches in the middle of The Strand (opposite Somerset House and King’s College London) was a much more beautiful building, although apparently Gibbs was instructed to tone down the Italian and Roman Catholic architectural influences found in the Baroque St Mary when designing St Martin.  

Unfortunately, St Mary-le-Strand is less famous than both St Martin and the other Strand ‘island’ church, St Clement Danes (featured in the song, ‘oranges and lemons and the bells of St Clements’).  St Clement is the central church of the Royal Air Force, therefore receiving significant funds for upkeep from them.  St Martin, due to its location, receives much tourist (and trust) monies.  St Mary receives little, and so has somewhat of an unkept appearance.

I found this a shame, as it was by far the most pleasant of the three.  The reverend there took the time to show me around, explain the history I paraphrase above, point out features of the architecture, and even insisted I play the grand piano and organ there.  Just goes to show what one might discover if they stray off the tourist track.  

*I unfortunately do not have an adequate photo of St Mary-le-Strand, although I will hopefully one day rectify this…

Canongait Kirk, Edinburgh