Tag Archives: icons

One church two parishes and two denominations

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ST CLEMENT’S CHURCH in central Cambridge began being constructed in the 13th century. It was modified in later centuries. While many Anglican churches contain one or two Orthodox-style icons, St Clement’s has many of these, including a large one depicting the Mother and Child, flanked by typical Orthodox style, sand-filled candle holders. In addition, there are several large reproductions of frescos of portraits of Orthodox saints including St Clement. Apart from the Orthodox Church features within the building, there are furnishings that one would expect to find in any Anglican church.

The reason that the Orthodox ‘fittings’ fill the church is that St Clemnt’s doubles up as a church for an Anglican congregation and also for a local Russian Orthodox congregation, the members of the Parish of St Ephraim the Syrian, which is an English-speaking Russian Orthodox parish of the Diocese of Sourozh. In the Orthodox church, a screen called the ‘iconostasis’ and usually covered with religious paintings separated the clergy from the congregation. St Clement’s contains an iconostasis, which is retractable. During Orthodox masses, the hinged screen can be unfolded to hide the chancel from the rest of the church. When the Orthodox congregation are not using the church, it is folded away, and can hardly be seen from the nave. I had never seen a retractable iconostasis until I first entered St Clement’s (in August 2025).

One other noteworthy feature in the church is a mural on the east wall above the (Anglican) high altar. It was painted in 1872 by Frederick Richard Leach (1837–1904), who was born in Cambridge and later worked with the designer and social activist William Morris (1834-1896).

I have visited Cambridge numerous times and often passed St Clement’s, but it was only in August 2025 that I first stepped inside. I am glad I did because although it is a fine mediaeval church, its use by two Christian denominations and, in particular, its folding iconostasis makes it especially interesting.

Greek in north London’s Golders Green

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IN THE EARLY 1960s, the first proper self-service supermarket opened on the corner of Golders Green Road and a small service road called Broadwalk Lane. I cannot recall the name of this store, but it was soon taken over by the Macfisheries company. Later, it became a supermarket where many imported foods, especially products from Israel, were sold. Now, it has become a Tesco Express.

Facing the supermarket (across Golders Green Road) is a gothic revival style church. It has been used by a Greek Orthodox (Christian) congregation since 1968. Now, the The Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Cross & St. Michael, it was constructed as the Church of England’s ‘St Michael’s Church’ in 1914 to the design of JT Lee. A clock tower, surmounted by a delicate cupola supported by thin columns, was added to the church in 1960. On one of its walls, there is a bas-relief of St Michael with one foot on a serpent. On the northeast corner of the church, there is a plaque listing people who died in WW1. Near this, there is a crucifix standing in the garden next to the church. Its design, typical of C of E crucifixes, predates the arrival of the Greek congregation.

Although the interior of the church maintains some of its original Cof E fittings, such as stained-glass windows, the font designed in a mock mediaeval style, and some wall mounted memorials in English, a great deal of effort has been made to create the atmosphere of a Greek Orthodox place of worship. The walls of the side aisles have been painted with religious scenes. There is a decorated iconostasis and several framed icons. Elaborate chandeliers hang above the nave. Despite the additions to convert the church for Greek Orthodox worship, the original gothic revival features of the building’s interior are evident, but harmonise well with the later additions.