Day 5: Free Day in London

On Sunday all of us had the day off to explore London on our own. Marcus, Colin, and I met up with Colin's friend Malcolm. A longtime London native, Malcolm took us all around center city, describing the people and places. Malcolm's a history buff. At each sight we saw he masterfully retold its tale, painting a vivid picture and accenting it with non-stop english quips. Here's some photos from the day.

Our first step was St. Etheldreda's Catholic church. Built in the 1200s, it is known for being the first Anglican church to revert back to Catholicism once it was permitted by the state. The Church was absolutely beautiful. Most of the stained glass is very new, but some of the statues are very old. We attended the 9 AM Mass. Some others from our group went to the sung Latin Mass at 11 AM. We heard the schola rehearsing beforehand. For more information on the history of the church, go to: http://www.stetheldreda.com/history.html

The great west window depicts five of the English martyrs – 3 monks and 2 priests. Tortured horribly, some of their relics remain hundreds of years later, kept in secrecy by underground Catholics.

The foundation of the crypt below is said to go back to the 7th century.

Salted beef bagels!

 Our next stop was Old Spitalfields Market, one of five major markets in the city. It is extremely diverse, with food vendors of every flavor and smell lining the street. Malcolm's favorite place is a Jewish deli across from a fruit stand. We some some grub and then moved on toward the London Tower Bridge.

Years ago, the area thousands of immigrants from Bangladesh arrived in the area, hence the street signs in Bengali (?)

The Tower of London, revered and feared

On a hill overlooking the tower lay a plaque commemorating the execution site of dozens of religious dissenters and political prisoners. Simon of Sudbury, Archbishop of Canterbury, St. John Fisher, Bishop of Rochester, and St. Thomas More, chancellor of England, were all executed on this spot.

Standing here in silence made me think of John Paul II's encyclical Veritatis Splendor. In it, he writes that martyrdom is the highest moral act one can perform. To give one's life over to God fully, even under pain of torture and death, maximizes all our human capabilities. It gives witness to the truth that we are made for God above all else.

Tower Bridge of London

A view from the Monument, a tower commemorating the 1666 London fire. The fire consumed over 400 acres and burned for days.

We also visited Trafalgar square, Leicester square, St. Paul's Anglican cathedral, Buckingham Palace, St. James Park, London Bridge, Parliament and Big Ben, and the monument of Queen Boadicea. A huge thank you to Malcolm for his amazing tour guide skills and his great spirit!

At the end of the evening, at Trafalgar square

Posted by Marc Paveglio