July 4 may mean Independence Day to you but in our household it is my parents in law’s wedding anniversary. Sadly they are no longer with us to celebrate. This weekend we went to visit St Pancras Old Church were they got married. We have never visited before as they moved away long before my husband was born.
St Pancras Old Church is behind St Pancras station and is not the large and famous St Pancras church to be found opposite Euston station. Some say that it is the site of the longest continual Christian worship in London. It is certainly a very beautiful church. The altar stone dates from the sixth century.
Outside the grave yard is very peaceful when the Eurostar trains are not screeching past. When the railway lines were being constructed in the nineteenth century a lot of the graves were disturbed. The job of ensuring respectful treatment of the remains was given to Thomas Hardy, who was an architect at the time before he wrote his best selling novels. He arranged the grave stones round the base of a tree, that is now known as the Hardy tree.
Elsewhere you can see the mausoleum of Sir John Soane, famous for designing the Bank of England and for the eponymous museum.
Just behind Sir John’s rather splendid edifice a simple memorial stone for William Godwin and his wife Mary Wollenstonecraft can be seen. He was a philosopher and she was the author of The Vindication of the Rights of Women and the mother of Mary Shelley.
St Pancras Old Church is small but very beautiful and its churchyard more interesting than most. Well worth a visit and a special place to remember Marian and Roy.
What a beautiful old church and a lovely reason to visit
Author
It was a special day
I never realised there was a church behind St Pancras station and what a pretty church it is too. Will have to go and explore next time I’m in the area 🙂
I love visiting old places!
Looks like a lovely place for your in-laws to be and for you to visit them at
What a lovely old church! I must have walked close by it dozens of times without ever realising it was there.
Fantastic photos! That’s such a beautiful church and would be a very special place to get married.
I’m someone who loves to visit graveyards (which sometimes gets the odd comment) but I think they are fascinating places full of history and stories to tell. I think it’s lovely that you chose to visit for the anniversary. Thanks for sharing 😀
I’ve been to St Pancras hundreds of times but never noticed this church. It’s a wonderful find & looks very peaceful despite being so close to the station.
I love reading about new finds in London. It’s beautiful and I’m sure a very fitting place for your inlaws to get married
xx
#SundayPhoto
Hi Catherine, old English churches do ooze character and it’s lovely that you have a place you can remember your In-Laws too. I remember reading Lark Rise To Candleford and Far from the Maddening Crowd at school, I don’t ever remember being taught the Thomas Hardy was also an architect! Just goes to show we are never too old to learn something new!
xx
What a lovely idea to trace family history by visiting this church #MySundayPhoto
This looks like a proper old style English church
Thank you for linking up
What a lovely church (and post in general). I had no idea that Hardy did that. Love your new blog look too.
Author
Thank you! It still needs tinkering around the edges but I’m very excited, lots of new widgets to play with
As ridiculous as it might seem it never occurred to me that there was even one St Pancras church let alone 2! what an amazing little piece of literary history, linked to Hardy and Wollstonecraft. I can’t believe it’s in central London, it looks so rural. #mysundayphoto
Wow what a stunning church and a beautiful altar too. I’m trying to imagine a young couple taking their vows there. It’s our wedding anniversary on the 4th July too 🙂
What a great way to remember Marian and Roy. I’ve been to St Pancras several times and never knew of the existence of the old church. London really does have so many hidden gems!
I love exploring grave yards and touches – so peaceful when there is no people around 😉 x #mysundayphoto
Fascinating blog post, Catherine. I had no idea the church was there. Love the Thomas Hardy connection. Will definitely have to visit next time I get to London.
What a lovely way to remember your parents! Looks like a much more adorable church they got married in than my parents! I still remember that god awful browny-orange carptet…. haha #CityTripping Stumbled
PS. Your new blog look is fantastic!!
Author
Thank you! We were stunned by just how rural the church felt given that it is slap bang in the centre of London
What a beautiful church! I also love ancestry travel! #citytripping
I didn’t realise Thomas Hardy was an architect. Churches teach us so much more than just religion. I’ll have to pop in next time I’m near St Pancras.
#citytripping
I love how many layers of history there always are in London – to have so many links to different historical names in one relatively small church. Thanks for linking up with #citytripping
Lovely! I had no idea this was there! I guess like many people I just head into St. Pancras and go on my way… next time I’m allowing time to see this! #citytripping