religious
WD Caroe, 1903
St Aldhelm's Church, Silver Street, N18 1PL
what3words: burst.hears.frogs
St Aldhelm's is a Grade-2 listed church designed by the Arts and Crafts-influenced architect W. D. Caröe. Worth visiting for its architecture, it also holds a set of art and stained glass by Walter P. Starmer, famous for his murals at St. Jude-on-the-Hill, Hampstead Garden Suburb. Visitors will be able to see the beautiful cantilevered stone spiral staircase, not usually accessible to the public.
Silver Street
102, 144, 34, 217, 231, W6
Buses run past the church from Turnpike Lane, Wood Green, Bounds Green, Arnos Grove, Southgate and Walthamstow tube stations.
There is step-free access into the building from Silver Street which gives level access to most of the church.
The church is a busy but generally calm space. Refreshments will be available. Dogs are welcome on a lead.
10:00–17:00
Talk
15:00–16:00
How to book
Please create a free visitor account to book your festival tickets.
Built in 1903, St Aldhelm’s is a Grade-2 listed church much loved by its community but rarely visited by outsiders. Close to two major roads and with easy bus access it is well worth the trip.
The church itself is a slightly quirky building from 1903, with Arts & Crafts touches like the original hand-forged ironmongery on doors and windows and the beautiful brickwork. Parts of the building not normally seen by visitors will be accessible, including the stone cantilevered spiral staircase, and door hinges and window mechanisms in the rear rooms of the church.
The church has been little altered since it was built – the main change is the beautiful art in the church, all of it by the same artist, Walter P. Starmer. Most famous for the murals at the church of St Jude-on-the-Hill in Hampstead Garden Suburb, here at St Aldhelm’s Starmer created a painted reredos and a dozen stained glass windows, peopled by Biblical characters, saints and angels, all of them engaging and distinctive in personality.
Together, the characterful art and playful architecture create a building which is warm and welcoming and which rewards deeper engagement. In the afternoon there will be a talk about the reredos and stained glass.
Refreshments will be available all day – sit down, get comfortable, log onto our free wifi and enjoy the art, the architecture and the peaceful space.