This is St Peter’s Catholic Church in Clerkenwell Road EC1, known locally as the Italian Church. It was opened in 1863 for the 2,000 Italian immigrants living in the slums around Clerkenwell (no slums there now!) The notice board outside shows that services are conducted in English and Italian. I like the light shining down on the place where Jesus will be.

This beautiful Nativity is situated in the Crypt of St Martins in the Fields (hence the spiral staircase which can just be seen). The crypt itself is lovely, with a shop, a good café and facilities for doing brass rubbings. Well worth a visit. This nativity is made from oak with beaten copper and gold leaf, and was commissioned as part of the church’s Millennium celebrations, created by Peter Eugene Ball.

This Nativity also belongs to St Martin’s in the Fields and it’s outside in Trafalgar Square. It’s in a glass case so you can see all round it from different angles, and it looks like it’s really outside. I love it! This is called ‘Christmas Crib’ made by Tomoaki Suzuki, with costumes designed by Jessica Ogden.

St Martin’s has long been associated with working with homeless people, and every Christmas there are special services and events with admission charges so that proceeds can support their homeless charity. St Martin was a Roman Centurion, deployed to Londinium, who came across a beggar and tore his cloak in two, giving half to the beggar to keep him warm. That might be just a legend but it’s a lovely story and gives rise to the church’s heritage of helping those in need.

And now for something more classic, this is the Nativity in the Chapel of St Joseph in Westminster Cathedral (not to be confused with Westminster Abbey). A sign in the chapel tells us about Joseph, and I love the importance given to him as the ‘wise and loyal servant chosen by God to raise His Son’. What a responsibility for Joseph, but as Jesus’ stepfather he did a great job!

These photos were all taken last December. As it would have been impossible to visit these churches this year, I’m so glad I kept them, a reminder of a carefree Christmas time! 

I’m planning to continue this Blog in 2021, fortunately I have lots of ‘material’ from previous visits to churches etc, in London. Hopefully, it won’t be too many months before I can visit my favourite city again. Thanks for reading, Happy Christmas and here’s to a hopeful, healthy New Year.