FREEMAN FR. HOWE WITH HIS LATEST FUND-RAISING PROJECT IS ENCOURAGING STATIONERS TO MAKE A PILGRIMAGE TO ST. JAMES GARLICKHYTHE.
10 FEBRUARY 2025
Two videos recently posted on a YouTube channel give us an insight into the work of Stationer Father Anthony Howe, rector of St. James Garlickhythe since 2024 and known to many of our members as a book collector. He gained his love of books in his home county of Suffolk.
The videos are made by “Hereticatious” whose subject is the art, music and architecture of sacred spaces for the “benefit of atheists and believers alike”. His videos typically involve site visits and interviews with clergy. The videos are entitled St James Garlickhythe, Parts I and II and contain interviews of Fr. Anthony about his church and parish and their architecture and history.
We learn the parish contains the halls of six livery companies, in particular the Vintners who imported wine from France. Also imported nearby was garlic, brought from Santiago de Compostela in Spain, which inspired the dedication of his church to St. James after the saint buried in Compostela, Iago i.e. James in English. The church served as the London staging post for pilgrims heading for Santiago and is still described as London’s pilgrimage church.
Lovers of almanacks will be delighted to see the remnant of a well preserved Tudor almanack dating from 1544 is on display by request, an example of “binder’s waste” given a new use by being incorporated into the binding of a parish register but since removed, repaired by paper conservators and framed.
We wish Fr. Howe success in his latest fund-raising project and encourage Stationers to make a pilgrimage to St. James Garlickhythe.