Free sightseeing in London – A Church in Kensington
Just opposite the Kensington High Street tube station a beautiful church in the 13th century English Gothic style. It’s drawn back a bit from the wide pavement in a busy corner of two streets. In front of the church you see a WWI memorial decorated with wreaths of red poppies, the symbol of loss of soldiers in battle and beside that – a flower stand with lots of many kinds of flowers.
The church is called St Mary Abbots
Around the church a small churchyard with very old headstones leaving testimonies of real people who often died too young.
You enter the church through an archway and memorials of the departed are sitting in the walls. A welcoming sign makes you feel warm at heart and want to have a look inside.
For a thousand years a church of that name has been at this sight. The two first were too small so this one was finished 1872 by leading Victorian architect Sir George Gilbert Schott. Many things are reused from the former churches.
Famous people have worshipped here like Sir Isaac Newton, Beatrix Potter and the Royal families in former times. When people were mourning Princess Diana they came to this church so close to Kensington Palace where she lived.
In 1944 the church was hit by incendiary bombs from Germany and you will be able to find scorched marks on some pews.
I found information on the church at the church. The Victoria&Albert museum has the world’s largest collection of Beatrix Potter material and you can see the connection between her and the church via their internet page. You will be able to see a good picture of the interior of the church on that homepage.
Categories: Culture, Historical issues, Travelling
From one Heart to Another 
I’ve been past this church so many times, but have never gone inside!
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Next time you will Clive. I went three times for this post and about six years ago I went with the London Walks in Kensington and saw it for the first time
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I will indeed, just as soon as the doctor lets me travel on public transport again. It looks lovely.
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O I am sorry to hear that you have been ill
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Thank you, that’s kind of you. I have a leg condition, can’t risk getting them knocked as it damages the skin. Hoping it won’t be too long now though 😊
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I really hope it will heal soon so that you can get around as you wish
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Thank you, that’s sweet of you 🙂
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What a lovely post and shows that you dont have to spend much to have a great day in London. One thing that I do in my area of London is charity shop. It is a great way to help worthy causes and pass the time. Check out my latest review of Octavia Foundation Charity shop at tootinghustle.wordpress.com and let me know what you think!
Happy blogging x
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Thank you for your nice comment. Today I have been missing London and wonder if the daffodils are already blooming in the parks. I will look at your link. Maybe you could send me an active link please
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They’ve started blooming yes, it looks so lovely. You can feel the seasons starting to change too.
here is another link: https://tootinghustle.wordpress.com/
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