Where in London can you find a Bedouin tent?
Back in 1993 the little church of St Ethelburga, on Bishopsgate in the City of London, was devastated by an IRA bomb. The Church of England was keen to demolish the ruins – it would have made economic sense – but there was substantial opposition to the move, and in the end, the church was rebuilt and devoted to a Centre for Reconciliation and Peace.
Behind the church, where there used to be a tiny garden, there now stands a fine Bedouin tent. It’s made of goat hair, in traditional Bedouin style, and was woven in the Middle East. But it’s a design that most Bedouin wouldn’t recognise – a 16 sided polygon created by an expert in sacred geometry with the intention of creating a spiritual symbol that is non-denominational in nature, a perfectly proportioned and harmonious space.
St Ethelburga’s is open to visitors from 11-3 on Friday. But there are also regular meditation times, as well as world music events and talks held in the church or in the tent. Just as it used to be, the church is still an oasis of calm in the middle of the bustle and noise of the City.
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