St James
Stanstead Abbotts, Hertfordshire
A local treasure unchanged for 200 years.
The church contains a huge and captivating mosaic by John Piper having the theme of Risen Christ at Emmaus. This, Piper's first mosaic antedates in execution his massive stained glass window in Coventry Cathedral, completed in 1962. The architects Humphreys and Hurst designed a particularly lavish church as the 'mother church' of the new town. An unusual plan with a separate bell tower and out-door pulpit, the exceptionally fine and complete fittings by Hurst are complemented by John Piper’s mosaic. The largely intact interior furnishings have been described as a 'jewel box'.
A visit to St Paul’s affords a peaceful break and step back in time from the bustle of Harlow town centre and can be combined with a visit to the nearby Gibberd Gallery with other works by John Piper.
St Paul’s Harlow was built it 1959 is placed equal tenth in the National Churches Trust UK’s Best Modern Churches competition and has recently been featured in the Twentieth Century Society's book '100 Churches, 100 Years'.