French Protestant Church - Soho Square, London, UK
N 51° 30.933 W 000° 07.980
30U E 698919 N 5711055
This relief sculpture sits above the entrance door to the French Protestant Church in London.
Waymark Code: WMFFEP
Location: London, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 10/11/2012
Views: 3
The carved relief, above doorway of the
French Protestant Church, Soho Square, was erected at the church in 1950, to
celebrate the 400th anniversary of the opening of the first French Protestant
Church in Threadneedle Street in 1550. It shows the Huguenots leaving France,
arriving at Dover and receiving a charter from King Edward VI granting them
asylum. Above the 'journey' is a cross that has a winged angel on each side.
Below the cross is a dove.
Looking at the sculpture the thing that
is most noticeable are the eyes of the people. They are a bit
frightening!
The main relief shows, from left to
right, a boat crossing the English Channel (Le Manche) with a family and their
possessions on board. The eye is then drawn to the gang plank and the family
coming ashore in England. The final scene shows King Edward VI signing the
charter in 1550 giving the Huguenots asylum.
Beneath the carving is an inscription
that reads:
To the glory of God
& in grateful memory of
H M King Edward VI who by his charter of
1550
granted asylum to the Huguenots from France
This tympanum was
set up in the year of our Lord 1550