Open House day in Wanstead
There are a number of buildings in Wanstead taking part in the Open House Day on Saturday and Sunday. Take your pick – and feel free to submit photos if you do visit (either at wansteadium[at]gmail.com or tag them “Wansteadium” on Flickr).
Quaker Meeting House (more details)
Modernist building based on four hexagons within an Epping Forest setting. Contains a sunny meeting room for Quaker worship facing onto a wooded burial ground of simple headstones, including that of Elizabeth Fry.
St Mary’s Wanstead (more details)
Grade I listed, fine example of a small Georgian church with original box pews, next door to the now vanished Wanstead House. One of London’s best Baroque monuments (to Sir Josiah Child of the East India Company) in chancel.
Sukkat Shalom Reform Synagogue, pictured above (more details)
Red-brick, Grade II listed with sumptuous interior and stained glass windows above ark. Originally the Merchant Seaman’s Orphan Asylum Chapel, acquired by the synagogue in 1995 and restored with Heritage Lottery Fund grant
Christ Church (more details)
Grade II* listed church with ragstone tower, spire, good stained glass by Kempe and newly restored William Hill organ. A characteristic work of Scott. Diocesan Architectural Committee Award Winner 2009 for the reordering of the nave and chancel.