Betjeman's "The Sandemanian Meeting House in Highbury Quadrant"

Beautifully restored yet fluorescent strip lighting? What would Betjeman's thoughts be on that!
"The Sandemanian Meeting House in Highbury Quadrant"

The Sandemanian Meeting-House in Highbury Quadrant

On roaring iron down the Holloway Road
The red trams and the brown trams pour,
And little each yellow-faced jolted load
Knows of the fast-shut grained oak door.

From Canonbury, Dalston and Mildmay Park
The old North London shoots in a train
To the long black platform, gaslit and dark,
Oh Highbury Station once and again.

Steam or electric, little they care,
Yellow brick terrace or terra-cotta hall,
White-wood sweet shop or silent square,
That the LORD OF THE SCRIPTURES IS LORD OF ALL.

Away from the barks and the shouts and the greetings,
Psalm-singing over and love-lunch done,
Listening to the Bible in their room for meetings,
Old Sandemanians are hidden from the sun.

Comments

RT @princesswales22: Come and sign the petition against corporate chains coming to Primrose Hill, glass of mulled wine too!

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Caledonian Park, Holloway, Islington

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