The Hawksmoor Churches

The eccentric architect Nicholas Hawksmoor designed a number of Baroque churches, which were built from 1710 to 1725. His designs were quite unusual, mixing pyramids and spires in a unique fashion. From Sir Simon Hamilton's notes, we know that the late Luxor Brethren identified his five churches as forming a symbol, labelled ``E.H.'' for the Eye of Horus hieroglyph they form. They identified the points of this symbols as being:

This figure seems to form a gateway to the alternate London's which the company has been encountering -- although it is not the only means of passage. The Ripper murders and other events can be seen to lie directly on the the lines which make up this Eye of Horus figure, indicating a connection.

Sir Simon's notes also mention a bust of ``The Master'' (which turns out to be Hawksmoore himself). Also in the notes were as-yet-unexplained references to ``N.T.'', ``The Red Hand'', and the date 1656. For reference, the Great Fire of London was in 1666, and the Masons were ostensibly founded in 1717.

The Churches

CHRISTCHURCH, SPITALFIELDS
Regarded by most as Hawksmoor's masterpiece. Christchurch is situated in Commercial Street, a short walk from Liverpool St. underground station, and was built between 1714-1729 above an old plague pit. The Spitalfields area over the centuries has welcomed Hugenot, Jewish and Muslim immagrants among many others. It was for this expansion that the church was built and even today it totally dominates the area. Christchurch is a large, solid, not particularly elegant, but still beautiful church and it has been said that at night when the church is lit that there is an impending sense of it falling upon you!

ST. ANNE'S-LIMEHOUSE
Situated near the Thames this church, built between 1712-1730, was a well known sight for ships bringing goods up the Thames to Limehouse docks. In 1850 the church was gutted by fire. As in the grounds of Christchurch there is a pyramid that has no explanation for its existence. In Limehouse there is an engraving from the Old Testament: "A crown of glory shall be theirs, and a fair diadem from the Lord himself." Some people see this as part Hawksmoor's arcane influences whereby he would use ancient Greek and Egyptian imagery in his churches.

ST. GEORGE'S-IN-THE-EAST
Again in the East by Ratcliffe Highway (crossroads of Cannon St) this has a similar feel to it as St Anne's. A famous murder took place last century, strangely enough on a spot that Hawksmoor originally wanted the church to be built. The murderer committed suicide and was buried at the crossroads of Canon Street and Cable St, next to the church, with a stake through his heart.

ST. GEORGE'S, BLOOMSBURY
Built between 1720-1730 the most prominent part of this church is the steeple with a statue of George I at the top. The steeple is based on the tomb of Mausolus (hence the word mausoleum) in Helicarnussus built in 353BC. The church was shown in Hogarth's famous sketch 'Gin Lane' depicting drunks lolling around outside. Writer Anthony Trollope was baptised here and the church was mentioned in another book by Dickens.

ST. MARY WOOLNOTH, CITY
Hawksmoor's only church technically within the City of London (built 1716-1724) and the smallest of his six London churches. Built above what is now the Northern Line station at Bank the front of this church has the appearance of two towers fused into one mass.

ST. ALFEGE, GREENWICH
The first of the London churches to be built in 1712-1714 and the only one south of the river. To save money, the surviving tower of the old church was re-cased by John James of Greenwich. The money to build all the churches was raised from an increased tax on coal passed by Parliament in 1711 and originally 50 churches were to be built in and around London.
St. Alfege's was consecrated on 29 September 1718. The church's ceiling is the largest suspended oval ceiling in Western Europe. The modern St Alfege's have their own web site


St. Alfege's.

Other Works by Nicholas Hawksmoor