At a Glance

  • Site visits to churches in London
  • Thursday 5 December 2024
  • Day School 10:30 - 16:30
  • Fee: £93
  • Tutors: Dr Sarah James and Dr Michael Paraskos

Enrol-by Date

  • 20 November 2024
This course is now full. Join our mailing list for future courses.

Although most of medieval London was destroyed in the Great Fire that overwhelmed the city in September 1666, there are still surviving corners of the great medieval city that once stood here, which you can see if you know where to look.

We invite you to join Dr Sarah James and Dr Michael Paraskos exploring some of the rare medieval survivors of the architecture that once dominated the city, and some of the buildings that came to replace it.

Starting our journey at the truly ancient church of St Bartholomew the Great, we will see one of the most important examples of Romanesque architecture in London. Moving onto St Ethelreda Farringdon, we will discover not only a forgotten gothic gem, but learn something of the extraordinary story of the saint to whom the church is dedicated. And finally we will see how Christopher Wren and others used the destruction of the Great Fire in 1666 to establish a new style of church architecture in England, culminating in St Paul's Cathedral itself, with its surprising links to its medieval past.

Combining architectural history from Michael and literary and church history from Sarah, this informal but informative jaunt around London is a great way to discover some of the more surprising and hidden sights of the city, and get in the mood for the Christmas holidays!

No previous experience is needed - all welcome (although please be aware there will be quite a bit of walking between the locations on the trip) 

Class Recordings

These classes are not recorded

 

Attendance Certificate

 

Successful completion of this course leads to the award of an Imperial College attendance certificate

 

Terms and conditions apply to all enrolments to this course. Please read them before enrolment

Course Information

Course Programme

The study day will start at 10:30 and end at 16:30. Programme is provisional and may have to change depending on opening times remaining regular in the run-up to Christmas, and unforeseen factors.

  1. 10:30 Meet at Temple Tube Station. Walk to Temple Church
  2. 11:30 (approx.) Walk to St Bartholomew the Great Church
  3. 12:45 (approx.) Break for Lunch
  4. 13:40 Meet outside Charterhouse - please be on time as we are booked in for this.
  5. 15:30 (approx.) walk to St Ethelreda Church

 

Your Tutors

Photograph of Dr Sarah JamesDr Sarah James’s work is focused on medieval hagiography from c.1100-1500. Far from being timeless and aloof, saints in this period are continually being reimagined by writers in ways that perform important social, religious and political work of immediate contemporary relevance. 

To understand that work Sarah explores a range of evidence, including the written lives, documentary records, and representations of the saints in material culture. Her geographical focus is wide-ranging, including both the Latin west and more recently Byzantium; the island of Cyprus in this period is of particular significance to her work at present and is likely to remain so.

Photograph of Dr Michael Paraskos

Dr Michael Paraskos is a very experienced adult education tutor, having taught for over twenty-five years. He is a Visiting Professor at York St John University and holds a Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, and also teaches art history to students at the City and Guilds of London Art School. Michael  has published very widely on art, as well as reviewing exhibitions and novels for BBC Radio 4’s Front Row and The Spectator magazine. His first novel In Search of Sixpence was published in 2016 and his second, called Barfrestone, was published in 2024.

Course Fees and Rate Categories
Course Fee    
£93
         
No early bird rate or other discounts are available for this Day School. Part-payments are not possible

 

Term Dates 2024-25
Session Date and Time of the Medieval London Day Trip Spring term Summer term
 1 Thursday 5 December 2024 from 10:30 - 16:30* n/a n/a
*This is a 1-session Day School
Enrolment Process

Enrolment via the booking link is open

Enrolment and payment run through the Imperial College eStore. When enrolling:

  • Do check on the drop down menu above called "Course Fees and Rate Categories" to see if you are eligible for a discounted rate and also do make sure you select that rate when enrolling on the eStore
  • If you are a first-time eStore user you will need to create an account before enrolling. You can do this by entering an email address and password. This account can then be used for any future enrolments via the eStore.

When you have enrolled you will be sent the following email notifications:

What is sent When is it sent What does it contain
1. Payment confirmation Is sent straight away following submission of your online application
  • This is a receipt for your payment and includes payment date, order number and course title
  • Confirmation of your place on your chosen course will follow later as long as the course recruits enough students to run. If not you will receive a refund of your payment.
2. Enrolment confirmation Is usually sent within 10 working days. Please treat your payment confirmation as confirmation that your applicant details and payment have been received
  • Confirms your course choice
  • Shows your course's term dates
  • Confirms the day and time of your course
3. Programme information Is usually sent on Friday late afternoon the week before term starts
  • Contains joining instructions for your course, either online or in the classroom, depending on the course
 
  • If you need further help with the above information please ring 020 7594 8756 / +44 20 7594 8756.
  • All enrolments are provisional until the course is confirmed to run. This will be dependent on the course reaching the minimum number of enrolments.
  • All enrolments are subject to our Terms and Conditions. It is not possible to join one of our courses without agreeing to be bound by our Terms and Conditions.
Any Questions?

If you have any questions about the academic content or teaching of this course please contact the Course Tutor, Dr Michael Paraskos m.paraskos@imperial.ac.uk

If you have any questions about your enrolment or payment processes please contact the Programme Administrator, Christian Jacobi, eveningclass@imperial.ac.uk

Contact us

Imperial after:hours Adult Education
Centre for Languages, Culture and Communication
Level 3 - Sherfield Building
Imperial College London
London SW7 2AZ
eveningclass@imperial.ac.uk
Tel. +44 20 7594 8756