St John’s Smith Square composition of classical elements, columns and cornices, moulded pediments and heavily modelled towers ... Built: 1713-1728 Admittedly, it looks a bit too large for the space it occupies Architect: Thomas Archer (1668-1743) – rather like some great piece of machinery that has been Restored: 1965-1969 by Marshall Sisson following parked in this tiny domestic little square of brick-faced damage sustained during World War II houses and white sash-windows. But this architectural outsize swagger is part of its fascination. It positively The architectural style of St John's Smith Square has challenges you to take it on full-face (and on all four faces). always provoked a reaction in the viewer – although not Once up the grand steps and through the doors the always complimentary. An 18th-century commentator contrast is complete. All within is quiet simplicity – a lofty, thought the new church “singular, not to say whimsical” spacious emptiness filled with a pale, clear light (there is no and Charles Dickens described it (in ‘Our Mutual Friend’) stained glass) – white walls contrasting with a scarlet as “some petrified monster, frightful and gigantic, on its curtain and a dark, polished timber gallery, giant white- back with its legs in the air”. However, tastes change and painted Corinthian columns carrying a simple barrel- St John's Smith Square is now regarded as one of the vaulted roof... It's all as cool and quiet and evocative as the masterpieces of architecture. inside of a seashell. But there's another surprise to come. Beneath the church and reached by stone spiral stairs in The building was designed by Thomas Archer. His family the corner tower is another architectural mood ... the crypt. were country gentry, but nothing is known about his Low brick vaults – hardly more than head-high - a sense of architectural training. After the usual education for a weight and gravity…” cultivated gentleman – three years at Oxford followed by the Grand Tour of Europe – he made his way as a Groom HISTORICAL BACKGROUND Porter appointed by Queen Anne in 1705. He was In 1710, the long period of Whig domination of British responsible for licensing all gambling at court. He retained politics ended as the Tories swept to power. Under the this post for the rest of his life under her successors Tories' plan to strengthen the position of the Anglican George I and George II. Not surprisingly, he became a Church and in the face of widespread damage to church wealthy man. Possibly as a result of this wealth and the buildings after a storm in November 1710, Parliament distractions of Court life, his architectural output was small concluded that a ‘Commission for building 50 new - including some work at Chatsworth; Roehampton House churches’ would be necessary in the cities of and (now part of Queen Mary's Hospital); St Philip's Church, Westminster. An Act of Parliament in 1711 levied a tax on Birmingham (now the Cathedral) and St Paul's Church, coal imports into the Port of London to fund the scheme. . Archer's style owes most to the Italian influences Archer was appointed to this commission alongside he experienced on his Grand Tour, primarily that of Hawksmoor, Vanburgh and Wren. The site for St John's Borromini. Smith Square was acquired from Henry Smith (who was also Treasurer to the Commissioners!) in June 1713 for In 1981, Sir Hugh Casson wrote of the building: £700 and building commenced immediately. The church “The plan is squarish and almost symmetrical, but like all was finally completed and consecrated in 1728, costing a Baroque churches the interlocking pattern of the internal total of £40,875 (approximately £5.3m today!) spaces is ambiguous, so that you can "see" and comprehend the church centrally or longitudinally as you St John's Smith Square’s famous nickname ‘Queen prefer. The outside is such a turmoil of movement that you Anne's Footstool’ was coined early in its history. The could almost say there are no walls or windows ... only a story goes that Thomas Archer consulted the ailing Queen

Anne about his designs for the new church. The Queen, and Daniel Barenboim conducting the BBC Symphony not noted for her interest in architecture, petulantly kicked Orchestra. over her footstool, pointed at its upturned shape and snapped “Like that!” Look up outside of the building to see St John's Smith Square receives no subsidy. It relies the four towers or ‘legs’ of the stool adorned with entirely on income from concerts and the generosity of pineapples. trusts, companies and individuals. Over the years, we have successfully fundraised for the installation of a fine new For the next 213 years, the Church of St John the concert organ using the antique organ case (built by Evangelist served the surrounding parish – but not without Jordan, Byfield and Bridges in 1734) donated by Sir incident! In 1742 (the year before Archer's death) its Duncan Oppenheim; redecoration of the interior; and interior was damaged by fire and required extensive essential cleaning and repair of the exterior stonework. The restoration; in 1773 it was struck by lightning; in 1815 the organ, built by Johannes Klais of Bonn, was named ‘The towers and roof had to be shored up; and in the early 20th Sainsbury Organ’ to recognise the generosity of the Century it was the target of a suffragette bomb plot. Finally, Sainsbury family. and perhaps most dramatically, on 10 May 1941, the church was directly hit and gutted by an incendiary during THE CRYPT a bombing raid on London. A handwritten account of the The Crypt can be reached via the Box Office or via the events that night hangs in a frame at the top of the stairs spiral staircase towards the rear of the hall. This part of the leading from the hall down to the Crypt. Subsequently, the building was not damaged by the wartime bombing, so the church stood a ruin, open to the sky, for over 20 years. brickwork is original. Unlike other churches of the period (for example Christ Church, Spitalfields, whose crypt was RESTORATION & RE-BIRTH excavated by archaeologists in the 1980s yielding much The building was saved by the determination and information about the 18th-century inhabitants of the dedication of Lady Parker of Waddington, a plaque on the parish), the crypt of St John's was never used for burials. In south wall commemorates this. She formed the Friends of fact, for most of the 18th and 19th centuries, the space was St John's in 1962 to raise money and restore the church to let for storage of wines and beer! The Crypt now houses Archer's original design as a concert hall. Work began in the Footstool Restaurant, containing an exhibition of 1965 and the opening recital was given on 6 October 1969 photographs of historical St John’s Smith Square and by Dame Joan Sutherland and Richard Bonynge, in the serving hot and cold drinks, buffet and à la carte meals, presence of St John's Royal Patron at the time, HRH The and cakes. Princess Margaret (our current Patron is HRH The Duchess of Cornwall). Instead of underground, the church's burial ground is situated in Horseferry Road adjacent to the former Since its re-birth in 1969 as one of the finest concert Westminster Hospital buildings. The site is now designated halls in London, and now in its 303rd year, St John's St John's Gardens and the remaining grave-slabs, much Smith Square has hosted many highlights. These include eroded by time and the elements, are arranged around the the UK premiere of Karlheinz Stockhausen’s Stimmung; perimeter of the garden. world premieres of works by Boulez, Birtwistle, Copland and Tippett by the London Sinfonietta; William Walton sjss.org.uk conducting his own 70th birthday concert; Pierre Boulez @StJohnsSmithSq #SJSSMarathon

Pay-per-Note: The People’s Piece. Play your part in the world premiere of a new composition. Pick your notes 2 before Midnight on Sunday, and St John’s Smith Square’s own Director will compose a piece for recorder quartet, to be premiered by Young Artists, Palisander Recorder Quartet, after 9.30am on Sunday.