I'll admit that this review is as good as it is as much for the gig itself as the gig venue…read more Church gigs are awesome. Well, church gigs with suitably atmospheric music are awesome, anyway. I got to see Bohren & Der Club of Gore here who made the most of the setting, impressive considering they'd be equally at home in a smoky, dimly lit bar: as a dark jazz outfit, the minimalist and contemplative sound were a perfect fit for the setting. Making this more impressive was how they followed up an absolutely earth-shattering Stephen O'Malley showing (dubbed by the headliners as "the guitar inferno"). SO'M is one of the pioneers of drone metal, best known for his work in Khanate and Sunn O))). Drone metal is not for everyone, it's not easy to listen to, and quite frankly is often a bit flat on record. However, it's possible to create a really powerful experience with one man, one guitar, four amps, and profound projections. Part of it is the overwhelming of the senses with a wall of chords, part of it is the projection and the setting itself, and part of it is the fact that the church resonated in a way that you just wouldn't get with most normal gig venues. It's stuck with me since, feeling the sound wash over me was similar to standing on a cliff edge in a howling gale. Anyway, enough about that particular gig - if you get the chance to see an act you like here, I'd highly recommend it (although be warned - the line for the loo can get pretty long). St John's Sessions put on a lot of experimental/ambient shows which are so well suited to the space and it really adds a lot to the overall experience. In fact the show was so good that I totally forgot that they kept us waiting for an hour past doors open times (in a light sprinkle) for no discernible reason. Now I should knock off a star, but I don't reaaaally want to. Because I think more people should go see experimental music in churches.

Like Chapel Church in Islington I love intimate spaces like this for gigs and the sound was good…read moretoo.

This is the church of "Stepney" in the Oranges and Lemons nursery rhyme:…read more "Oranges and lemons" say the Bells of St. Clement's "You owe me five farthings" say the Bells of St. Martin's "When will you pay me?" say the Bells of Old Bailey "When I grow rich" say the Bells of Shoreditch "When will that be?" say the Bells of Stepney "I do not know" say the Great Bells of Bow "Here comes a Candle to light you to Bed Here comes a Chopper to Chop off your Head Chip chop chip chop - the Last Man's Dead." A plaque outside tells a little of its history. The church is surrounded by a churchyard of nearly seven acres. In the 17th century the churchyard was enlarged to cope with the massive number of deaths during the Great Plague of London. The church has a long traditional link with the sea and many sailors were buried here. It was once known as the 'Church of the High Seas', and until quite recently births, marriages and deaths at sea were registered here.

Yelp 100 Challenge 2018 - # 65/100…read more I'm happy to say that the firm bed reminded me of mine back home. The fact that there is no tv in the room didn't bother me at all, we'd rather venture out than stay indoors to watch tv anyway. Limehouse station is just a block away and other forms of public transportation are readily available. A wonderful breakfast is included in your stay. We had dinner at a lovely Mediterranean restaurant that's just walking distance. House rule-quiet down after 10 pm, so you're in for a really restful sleep. There is a prayer room and rooms for retreat and meetings. Distilled water is £1.50 for the duration of the stay. You can have as many bottles of water as you want, just return the empty bottles when you pick up a full one. The best part? WiFi is free! Forget tv, I watched my shows on my iPad.

Tucked away in the back streets of Limehouse is this astonishing oasis of peace and calm…read more Operated by the Church of England, St Katharine's is a retreat centre and conference facility. As well as for religious use, it is available to a wide range of not-for-profit organisations for conferences, meetings, training events and away-days. It is increasingly booked by individual visitors as well, subject to availability. It has an intriguing history: it was originally founded in 1147 by Queen Matilda as a religious community and medieval hospital for poor and infirm people, next to the Tower of London. in 1273, Queen Eleanor granted a new Charter reserving the Foundation's patronage to the Queens of England. Until her death in 2002, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother was its patron, a role which has now passed on to the present Queen. In 1825 the foundation's land was acquired for St Katharine's Dock, and it moved to a site at Regent's Park as a residential almshouse. It moved back to the East End in 1948 as a retreat centre, located on the site of a bombed-out parish church. The buildings were modernised and expanded in 2002 to offer wider hospitality facilities, but some of the rooms in the original Clergy House are suitably grand in the traditional Georgian style. The staff are very helpful and pleasant, although it is not as intensively staffed as commercial premises - no IT technicians available late at night, for example. But then, you are paying rather less, too. Despite this, it still has the feel of a retreat centre: the buildings are attractively grouped around a central quadrangle with lawns and mature trees, and there is a chapel on one side with daily services. It really is a haven from the outside world (and there are high walls around it to keep the outside world at bay, figuratively and literally). Hire rates are considerably lower than commercial premises, but the feel is still of a modern conference facility. It can cater for groups up to 70, though I think it works better with about half that number. There are meeting and break-out rooms, a library and a single large semi-circular conference room with a curved glass wall. The 44 bedrooms are modern, clean and comfortable, but a little spartan - because of its use as a retreat, there are no televisions or telephones in the rooms, although it does now have Wifi. But from £65 a night for bed and breakfast (2014), it offers astonishing value for central London. Note, however, prices vary according to availability, and rise to £119 for B&B. Meals are also amazing in quality and quantity for the price - you won't starve! There is a small gated car-park at the main entrance, and it is just a short walk from Limehouse DLR station. The facilities are fully accessible.

There's not much to add to Templar's comprehensive review: still regarded by many as one of the…read moremost important centres in the Anglo-Jewish community, the Bevis Marks Synagogue is beautifully maintained. It is strongly reminiscent of the Wren and Hawksmoor churches of the City in its classical architecture and furnishings, which include impressive brass candelabra and 17th century wooden benches. The Synagogue's tradition is Orthodox, so men and women are separated: men on the ground floor, women in the galleries. Their opening hours (for visits) are slightly longer than advertised on their website, so it's worth contacting them ahead of a trip to London if you want to pay a call. Tourists (as opposed to those attending services) are asked to pay £3 for entry, and men are asked to wear a skull cap - one will be provided if you don't have one. Your bags may also be searched. They sell a small range of postcards and books at the entrance.

Situated in a secluded courtyard, the Bevis Marks Synagogue was opened in 1701 to serve the Spanish…read more& Portuguese Jewish Congregation. Today it is one of the best-preserved houses of worship of its period still in regular use. The Inquisition, revived by Ferdinand and Isabella, turned its attention to these crypto-Jews, and from the last years of the fifteenth century, they: were systematically persecuted, arrested, tortured, tried, and burnt at the stake. From about this time there was a constant exodus of 'Marranos' who succeeded in escaping from Spain and Portugal or its dependencies to avoid persecution and a small number of them reached Protestant England. Outwardly, they were obliged to behave as Christians, for at that time Jews were not allowed officially, to enter the country, but at any rate they could live there, provided that they behaved with circumspection, and could meet in secret in each others' houses for prayer. The first Jewish house of worship of the resettlement of the Jews in England was as opened in 1656 in the upper floor of a house in Creechurch Lane, which is but a stone's throw from the present Synagogue in Bevis Marks The site of this house is today marked by a plaque, on the rear corner of Cunard House in Creechurch Lane. Jews were permitted to return to Britain in 1657 under Oliver Cromwell. They felt that the time was opportune to present a petition in the form of a humble address to Oliver Cromwell asking for the official re?admittance of the Jews to England Their decision was no doubt a wise one, as Cromwell, reared in a Puritanical atmosphere with its emphasis on the Old Testament was likely to hear favourably any petition presented by the 'people of the Old Testament'. Some of the most eminent figures of Anglo-Jewry sat at prayer in the Synagogue such as Sir Moses Montefiore. Disraeli was born into the Congregation and there are links to the Rothschilds. Today it is regarded as the most distinguished British Synagogue. The magnificent wooden Ark or cupboard) resembling a reredos, at the east end, is built in classical architecture in the manner of Sir Christopher Wren's time. It contains (as is the custom in Jewish synagogues') the sacred scrolls of' the Pentateuch, or five books of Moses, written in Hebrew on parchment, which are read in consecutive instalment over the period of a year as the central feature of the Sabbath Service. Several splendid seventeenth century vestments and silver ornaments belonging to the scrolls survive. The entablature of the Ark has as its central feature the Ten Commandments written in Hebrew (abbreviated), above which are inscribed in Hebrew the words 'Know before Whom thou standest'. The silver hanging Sanctuary Lamp, burning perpetually before the Ark, was presented by Edward Foligno in 1876 and evidently replaces an earlier example, now lost. Except for the addition of the doors to the Banca or Wardens' pews and to the Haham's or Chief Rabbi's seat in 1787, and of the choirstalls in about 1830, the ancient synagogue has remained virtually unchanged. Electric light was installed in 1929 Even though recently restored, the interior has barely changed since it was built. It is in the style of many Nonconformist chapels of the period. The influence of Sir Christopher wren is also evident. The Synagogue has one of the finest collections of Cromwellian and Queen Anne furniture in the country and the magnificent brass candelabra with glowing candlelight. On 19th December 1951 the Congregation held a Service to celebrate the 250th anniversary, of the opening of the Synagogue which was attended by the Duke of Edinburgh. On 22nd March 1956 British Jewry held a Service of dedication and thanksgiving at the Synagogue on the tercentenary of the resettlement of the Jews in the British Isles. Twelve pillars, symbolising the tribes of Israel, support the ladies' gallery, the reading desk and Echal are flanked by 10 candlesticks representing the Ten Commandments; and the interior is dominated by seven magnificent candelabra, corresponding to the days of the week. One of the great oak beams supporting the roof is said to have been presented by Princess (later Queen) Anne. In 1992 and 1993 the synagogue suffered great damage from terrorist bomb attacks on the City of London. Nearly £200,000, raised by donation, has since been spent in repairing and renovating the structure

A small church. Not as grand as some of the other churches that I walk into when I'm wandering…read morearound the city. I think what threw me, was that the church was locked up. (Most churches have an open door policy) The main doors were locked, I entered through the priory side door and gained entry to a small section at the. A know the church with an altar to Our Lady and a crucifix. But 3 glass doors leading to the main church were also locked. From what I could see through the glass, the interiors weren't as impressive as most of the other churches with similar exteriors are in London. If you want to visit the church, it would be best to do so during their mass hours. When I went, I only experienced locked doors and a dingy entry with light struggling to come through the windows which made me feel very unwelcome and completely non-conducive for personal prayer or quiet reflection.

Best church in town! A very peaceful place in a hectic city.read more

This place is known as The Clowns Church because every year, usually the first Sunday in Feb., the…read moreclowns of the world hold a sevice here. It is in memory of the British clown Joseph Grimaldi (1778-1837). This has been an annual tradition since 1946. The clowns attend in costumes. Nothing else remarkable about the church really. Go to see the clowns.