'The restoration of Christ Church , Spitalfields, is a triumph. For those used to the thin, pallid post-war restorations of a bomb-damaged City church, this meticulously accurate restoration is a revelation'. Giles Worsley, writing in the Daily Telegraph.
A team at Purcell Miller Tritton has been responsible for the last major phase of restoration of Hawksmoor's church in London's East End , the restoration of the interior. When the restoration was unveiled in September 2004, the Bishop of London described the results as a miracle. 'It stands for the fact that there are deeper and stronger values in life than price per square feet'.
The Grade I listed church, built between 1714 and 1729 on the scale of a cathedral, is considered Hawksmoor's masterpiece, perhaps the finest Baroque church in England . But, by the 1960s, the poor condition of the neglected church led to the threat of demolition. The plight of Christ Church then became a rallying cry for those, such as John Betjeman, interested in preserving architectural heritage. After the formation of the Friends of Christ Church Spitalfields in the 1970s critical work to repair the tower and spire, to restore the portico and to conserve external stonework went ahead.
Purcell Miller Tritton took on the interior phase of restoration in 2002 following the resignation of the appointed architects to the church, Whitfield Partners. They also took on Whitfield's architect, Andrew (Red) Mason whose knowledge of Hawksmoor's original design based on extensive documentary evidence has provided the vision for the completed scheme.
Together with colleagues Brian Anderson and Michael Morrison , Red Mason has overseen the unpicking of drastic alterations made to the church in the 1860s and the transformation of the interior back to the proportions and clarity of the eighteenth century design.
The work on the interior was so intense that the main body of the church needed to be closed for two years, although services continued in the crypt. The architects worked closely with the project managers, Malcolm Reading & Associates and the contractors Wallis of Bromley while many of the specialist craft skills necessary for the quality and scale of the work had to be subcontracted in.
Christ Church is now a stunning place of worship but also a commercial venue for social and commercial events. For the first time in 140 years, visitors will be able to see the church that Hawksmoor designed. As Red Mason declared, 'Hawksmoor is back'
