Pitzhanger Manor

Having visited the house-cum-museum bearing his name, the prospect of calling at Sir John Soane’s other home filled me with curiosity. A great English architect who developed the classical style, Pitzhanger Manor House in West London he designed as his own home rather than working for a client. Although the influence of ancient Greece is unmistakable, I found it as strange as I did pleasant.

Unlike the museum aforementioned, it was far from cluttered and seemed the more elegant for the judicial use of pictures and furnishings. Furthermore, I could almost have believed that it was all from the 1920s, for the décor seemed to anticipate art deco. The house was therefore backward-looking (ancient Greece) as well as forward-thinking (early twentieth century), Pitzhanger having been built 1800-1804. Despite dating to the time of George III and being a little older than our chapel, it seemed rather cutting edge.

The same might be said of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Its vintage lies in the distant mists of pre-creation, Jesus Christ being the Lamb slain from the world, while it also anticipates the glorious future and new creation which God will launch at Jesus’ return. It is older than the hills and yet fresher than the air; it is more ancient than the landmarks and newer than the morn.