The Squatters
I spotted this abandoned church a couple of weeks ago in South London and decided to pop back for a nose around this week. On seeing some bed sheets hanging out to dry around the back I realised there must be squatters living in there, then hey presto three squatters arrived home to find me trying to peek inside their house. They were pretty sceptical of me to begin with but friendly once I'd explained my interest in photographing abandoned buildings and not a newspaper photographer basically! I was given the full tour and allowed to take photos to my heart's content before they even served me up some tasty dinner, result! They were a nice bunch who were keen to show me the improvements they'd made since the previous squatters who left the place in a right old mess with anti-God messages sprayed all over the place. I haven't included pictures of their living quarters as I instead tried to capture the church that once was. This was quite difficult at times as they mostly all live in the main room of the church itself. Part of the reason they were so relaxed about letting me in was because they are expecting to be turfed out by bailiffs at any time, they are the fifth generation of squatters since the summer and the owner is not a happy chappy basically. I agreed not to share the specifics of this location, sorry about that.
The Church
The stained glass window is probably the best feature in here depicting pictures of the founders of the Cherubim & Seraphim movement. There are various other items of interest lying around though such as a fully functioning organ on stage in the basement, and some beautiful blue chairs (if it weren't for pigeons) with a music stand sat in front of them upstairs. The painting by the pulpit is pretty special too and there are various artefacts from the church lying around behind the main room which make for an interesting browse.
I was unable to find out a great deal of history on the place like when it was built but hopefully someone who knows their buildings will be able to hazard a guess and leave a comment below. It was taken over by the Cherubim and Seraphim group in 1978, before which it was a methodist church called St George's. According to a newspaper article it is Grade II listed but I can't find any evidence to corroborate that. Somebody in the street told me it was abandoned perhaps 5 or 6 years ago but that's all I can tell you I'm afraid. Here is some history on the 'Eternal Sacred Order of the Cherubim & Seriphum' movement, a strange bunch from what I could make out.....
The History
The Cherubim and Seraphim movement church, also known as the C&S, is a church denomination in Nigeria that was founded by Moses Orimolade Tunolase in 1925. Orimolade Tunolase received a direct communication from Jesus Christ instructing him to found the church. Orimolade received considerable media attention when he is said to have healed a girl, Christina Abiodun Akinsowon, from a long-term trance in which she could neither speak nor hear. After the healing event, Orimolade Tunolase and Abiodun Akinsowon teamed up, as father and adopted daughter, and offered their services to heal and pray for people. The Cherubim and Seraphim group claims to have dreams and visions that facilitate the connection of God and humanity. In 1925, they said that Jesus Christ had directed them to name their circle of followers Seraphim, after an angel they claimed to have seen in their dreams. Two years later, they added "Cherubim" to the name of their church, making their congregation the Cherubim and Seraphim. Several years after the creation of the Cherubim and Seraphim, different denominations following in its traditions broke off and formed new churches. The Church of Aladura, which began in 1930 under the lead of Josiah Oshitelu, was one of the churches that began under "similarly spectacular circumstances". By the 1940s, the Aladura movement church had begun to spread throughout the world, from places in Africa to other English speaking countries, such as the United States and the United Kingdom.
The Pictures:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7. (Photo of the priest on the right)
8. (Photo of the Founder on the left)
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15. (Order of Service from 1989)
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27. The living room
As always thanks for looking, a few more shots can be found here Cherubin & Seraphim Church - a set on Flickr
I spotted this abandoned church a couple of weeks ago in South London and decided to pop back for a nose around this week. On seeing some bed sheets hanging out to dry around the back I realised there must be squatters living in there, then hey presto three squatters arrived home to find me trying to peek inside their house. They were pretty sceptical of me to begin with but friendly once I'd explained my interest in photographing abandoned buildings and not a newspaper photographer basically! I was given the full tour and allowed to take photos to my heart's content before they even served me up some tasty dinner, result! They were a nice bunch who were keen to show me the improvements they'd made since the previous squatters who left the place in a right old mess with anti-God messages sprayed all over the place. I haven't included pictures of their living quarters as I instead tried to capture the church that once was. This was quite difficult at times as they mostly all live in the main room of the church itself. Part of the reason they were so relaxed about letting me in was because they are expecting to be turfed out by bailiffs at any time, they are the fifth generation of squatters since the summer and the owner is not a happy chappy basically. I agreed not to share the specifics of this location, sorry about that.
The Church
The stained glass window is probably the best feature in here depicting pictures of the founders of the Cherubim & Seraphim movement. There are various other items of interest lying around though such as a fully functioning organ on stage in the basement, and some beautiful blue chairs (if it weren't for pigeons) with a music stand sat in front of them upstairs. The painting by the pulpit is pretty special too and there are various artefacts from the church lying around behind the main room which make for an interesting browse.
I was unable to find out a great deal of history on the place like when it was built but hopefully someone who knows their buildings will be able to hazard a guess and leave a comment below. It was taken over by the Cherubim and Seraphim group in 1978, before which it was a methodist church called St George's. According to a newspaper article it is Grade II listed but I can't find any evidence to corroborate that. Somebody in the street told me it was abandoned perhaps 5 or 6 years ago but that's all I can tell you I'm afraid. Here is some history on the 'Eternal Sacred Order of the Cherubim & Seriphum' movement, a strange bunch from what I could make out.....
The History
The Cherubim and Seraphim movement church, also known as the C&S, is a church denomination in Nigeria that was founded by Moses Orimolade Tunolase in 1925. Orimolade Tunolase received a direct communication from Jesus Christ instructing him to found the church. Orimolade received considerable media attention when he is said to have healed a girl, Christina Abiodun Akinsowon, from a long-term trance in which she could neither speak nor hear. After the healing event, Orimolade Tunolase and Abiodun Akinsowon teamed up, as father and adopted daughter, and offered their services to heal and pray for people. The Cherubim and Seraphim group claims to have dreams and visions that facilitate the connection of God and humanity. In 1925, they said that Jesus Christ had directed them to name their circle of followers Seraphim, after an angel they claimed to have seen in their dreams. Two years later, they added "Cherubim" to the name of their church, making their congregation the Cherubim and Seraphim. Several years after the creation of the Cherubim and Seraphim, different denominations following in its traditions broke off and formed new churches. The Church of Aladura, which began in 1930 under the lead of Josiah Oshitelu, was one of the churches that began under "similarly spectacular circumstances". By the 1940s, the Aladura movement church had begun to spread throughout the world, from places in Africa to other English speaking countries, such as the United States and the United Kingdom.
The Pictures:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7. (Photo of the priest on the right)
8. (Photo of the Founder on the left)
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15. (Order of Service from 1989)
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27. The living room
As always thanks for looking, a few more shots can be found here Cherubin & Seraphim Church - a set on Flickr
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