Church guide
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The photos below show the high altar and three saints from the unusual mosaic glass reredos, commissioned to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the consecration of the church. You can download an information sheet about the reredos here.
The featured saints are Our Lady of The Oak at Islington, St Elizabeth of Russia and St John Henry Newman (canonised in 2019).
The featured saints are Our Lady of The Oak at Islington, St Elizabeth of Russia and St John Henry Newman (canonised in 2019).
There was an ancient Shrine to Our Lady on Upper Street, Islington, at St Mary's Church. The image of Our Lady (which may have been placed in an oak tree) was destroyed at the time of the Reformation. The Shrine of Our Lady of Islington was very popular, especially with pilgrims heading north from the City of London.
St Elizabeth of Russia is featured in the reredos because while in England as a young girl, she spent some time with the Sisters at a Convent in Amwell St (just south of the parish boundary), and may well have visited St Silas and/or the All Saints Mission in White Lion St.
John Henry Newman had not been canonised when the reredos was commissioned, but was a leading figure in the Oxford Movement, which encouraged the Church of England to rediscover its Catholic heritage.
St Elizabeth of Russia is featured in the reredos because while in England as a young girl, she spent some time with the Sisters at a Convent in Amwell St (just south of the parish boundary), and may well have visited St Silas and/or the All Saints Mission in White Lion St.
John Henry Newman had not been canonised when the reredos was commissioned, but was a leading figure in the Oxford Movement, which encouraged the Church of England to rediscover its Catholic heritage.
Our Community Hall at the west end of the building houses the 'All Saints Altar' which was originally the high altar of the All Saints Mission in White Lion Street. The altar was moved to St Silas when the Mission closed. See images below.
The central image depicting the descent from the cross is by an unknown artist. Around the central image are shield bearing emblems of the Passion of Christ, and above it a carving of St Veronica's veil, supported by two angels. The side panels (by Moyes Lewis) were added later.
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St Edward St Anne
the Confessor (with the BVM) Empress Helena St Cuthbert The panel depicting St Edward was given in memory of Lord Edward Spencer Churchill by his wife, Augusta, in 1911, the year of his death. He was a trustee of the All Saints Mission |
The door of the tabernacle contains a silver gilt Russian icon of Our Lady of Kazan (or the 'Kazanska Madonna'), once the most venerated icon in Holy Russia. The faces have been repainted in the Western style.
You can read about the original icon here. |
St Joseph St Augustine of Canterbury
St Lawrence St John Chrysostom The panel depicting St Lawrence was given in memory of Lord Edward Spencer Churchill by his wife, Augusta, in 1912, on the first anniversary of his death. |
