Limited Edition Lithograph Supports Church Organ Fund

Depicting area around St Michael's church Grove Park as it approaches centenary

In 1984 Pierre Fowell, a local architect and well known member of the Grove Park community produced a limited edition lithograph “Elevations of Grove Park” which proved very popular and completely sold out.

He has now updated the lithograph, showing even more elevations, and a limited edition of ‘Elevations 2’ are now available at £100 each. All proceeds will go to the St. Michael’s Church Organ Fund.

The church of St. Michael’s in Elmwood Road will be celebrating its centenary at the end of 2008 the church of

At the end of the 20th Century, Grove Park was an area of market gardens and orchards, supplying fruit and vegetables to the rapidly growing population of London. Where the church now stands, there was a fishpond, just inside the bend in Little Sutton Lane.

In early 1906 the Vicar of Chiswick proposed to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners the creation of the Parish of St. Michael, Sutton Court. At the same meeting it was agreed that the new church of St. Michael's would be financed from the sale of St. Michael, Burleigh Street, just off The Strand. The Strand Palace Hotel now occupies this site.

The first building on the Elmwood Road site was a wooden hall, which survived for almost 90 years. Here services were held until the opening of the church itself in December 1909. The church architects were Caroe and Passmore and the church is a fine example of the Arts and Crafts movement.

The building is in very good condition, but, sadly, the organ desperately needs major repair work. Since the end of 2006 a dedicated team from the congregation has been setting about the daunting task of raising over £75,000 for repairs.

Christmas cards and notecards have been produced; concerts and quiz nights organized; a sponsored walk, a Shakespeare review and a Betjeman evening have all contributed. Donations have been received from local businesses and individuals and St. Michael’s Players last year donated the proceeds of one of the performances of their much appreciated Christmas Panto. All in all it has been a very busy year for the St. Michael’s Church Organ Appeal, but there is still a long way to go.

Music plays a very large part in the life of St. Michaels. The Grove Park Music Festival regularly holds concerts in the church and the adjoining Centre. St. Michael’s has a robed choir with 31 regular members and is affiliated to the Royal School of Church Music. The choir is one of the key ways in which young people are encouraged to join in with and contribute to services. They learn to sing and to sight-read and to appreciate classical choral music.

The Chiswick Grove Park community has been generous with their time and money. The St. Michael’s Church Organ Appeal will continue through 2008. The Appeal Committee would like to hear from anyone who is interested in attending any of the events or making a donation, however small, to contribute to the repair and restoration of an important feature in the life of the community. Anyone interested in buying a limited edition of ‘Elevations 2’ should contact elevations2@stmichael-suttoncourt.org.uk

December 5, 2007