St. Valentine’s Day falls on a Sunday this year and I’m inviting you to a Valentine’s Day themed Recital in an especially beautiful location.
The Old Naval College in Greenwich has more history than you can shake a stick at. The buildings you see today were designed by Wren and Hawksmoor at the end of the seventeenth century.
The Chapel of St Peter and St Paul is a neo-classical masterpiece by James ‘Athenian’ Stuart and William Newton. Featuring a Samuel Green organ and an altarpiece painted by Benjamin West, it is one of the finest eighteenth century interiors in the UK.
So there is plenty to see and, on Sunday 14th February, something special to hear. I hope you will join me.
Dear Christopher,
Thank you for the invitation – sadly for us, we cannot make it. It is such a splendid place, it will be fun!
Stephen
Now here I can show off a bit as I was Chairman for a number of years of the Trust which is responsible for the ORNC. One of my early tasks as Chairman was to read the first lesson at the College Carol Service and listen to “my” chaplain preach an uplifting sermon. As a (lapsed) Catholic I took some pleasure in appointing an Anglican clergyman when the incumbent moved on.
The building on the right of your picture, as you probably know, was built by John Webb as the first part of what was to have been a vast new palace for Charles II. It was never occupied as a palace but during the Plague it was used by the Navy Board and hence by Pepys. Subsequently, it was incorporated into Wren’s design, the first version of which had to be changed in order that the view of, and from, the Queen’s House should not be compromised. When I was there I gave friends a rather an enjoyable guided tour which included the undercroft, which is what remains, probably, of the Tudor palace (and which is visitable in a current guided tour) and one of the domes . This is like the upside down hull of a ship of the same era ( and which is not visitable but worth the detour if you know anyone there).