Bishop of London to reopen St Luke’s church, West Holloway, and launch its new spirituality centre

Photo Credit: Stefano Cagnoni

11/01/08

This Bishop of London will oversee a confirmation service on 13 January and reopen the building after extensive refurbishment. Visitors will have an opportunity to view an impressive new work in the chancel, created by artist-in-residence Rob Pepper.

The Bishop will also be launching the church’s new centre for spirituality, Breathing Space. Its exciting programme, starting in January, is designed to enable parishioners and visitors to explore paths for personal and spiritual development.

St Luke’s has undergone extensive building work in 2007 to accommodate its growing congregation. To celebrate the new space, renowned young artist Rob Pepper has created an ambitious original painting to decorate the ceiling of the chancel. Dozens of members of the congregation added the final touches to the spectacular 40-panel piece, making it a real community project.

The design centres around an interpretation of the “three hares” motif (traditionally used to represent the Trinity, and also appearing in the artwork of other faiths).

The centrepiece is flanked by gold trees, the leaves of which bear the names of the congregation and others significant in the life of St Luke’s, bordered with the verse, “The leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations” (Rev. 22:2). Members of the congregation sponsored individual panels.

Rob Pepper enjoyed several successful exhibitions in 2007 in London, UK, and Texas, USA. He has recently moved his studio from The Art Academy, London (where he held the position of Senior Tutor) to St Luke’s church, where he has been a member for some years.

Dave Tomlinson, vicar of St Luke’s, says it’s been a turbulent year for the church, which has been holding its services in a local theatre for the last three months while underfloor heating was installed. “But now, it’s like returning to a brand new building,” says Dave. “The chancel artwork is the icing on the cake. We are over the moon.”

At his visit, Bishop Richard will also launch Breathing Space, St Luke’s new Centre for Spirituality.

“We’re very excited about this project,” says Dave Tomlinson. “We hope Breathing Space will be a resource for the spiritual growth and development of members of St Luke’s and other Christians; as well as connecting with and resourcing the spiritual journey of people in the wider community.”

The upcoming programme for Breathing Space includes:

• Guest speakers such as James Allison (Catholic theologian and author)
• Monthly ambient Soul Space worship services, led by members of St Luke’s
• Songwriting workshop with acclaimed singer-songwriter Iain Archer
• Seminar and workshop with contemporary icongrapher Regan O’Callaghan
• Small-group workshops using Enneagram personality typing for developing self-understanding, run by Dave Tomlinson.

Further details of the Breathing Space programme will shortly be available at
www.breathingspace.info.

Visitors will be warmly welcomed at the service on 13 January at 6.30pm, and are invited to stay for a reception afterwards, when they will have an opportunity to view Rob Pepper’s artwork, meet the artist and Bishop Richard, and learn more about Breathing Space.