London: Islington Church in Open House & Gardens Festival

Mary Mother of the City

St Joseph's Catholic Church, tucked away between Old Street and the Barbican, is one of the few buildings in Islington & the City of London, taking part in London's 2023 Open House & Gardens Festival. The Festival gives access to buildings not always open to then public. St. Joseph's is usually only open for Services or prayer on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. The remaining Festival opening days are 11-16 September, 10am - 5pm.

The Church, built as a School Chapel in 1901 contains two stained-glass windows from the former St Mary Moorfields Church, near Finsbury Circus. Two contemporary, Ethiopian-style icons of 'Mary, Mother of the City', and 'Joseph, of the House of David', by the renowned artist, Stephane Rene, are more recent acquisitions.

The Church's Quiet Garden in memory of the late Cardinal Basil Hume, Archbishop of Westminster, has received a number of Small-Garden Awards for its Japanese style. The Garden is open from Easter until November, each year, providing a calm oasis for City workers and the local Bunhill neighbourhood.

LINK

St Joseph's Bunhill Row: https://parish.rcdow.org.uk/bunhillrow/