Van Gogh in
Austin Friars
7 Austin Friars
The church Vincent visited was bombarded in 1940 and no longer exists. A new one was built on the same spot, and services continue to be held there in Dutch.
Van Gogh in
Austin Friars
Vincent visited Austin Friars, a Dutch church in the City of London, between July 1873 and May 1874. He drew the church and sent the drawing to his sister Anna. Below the drawing – probably copied from a postcard – he wrote:
“This little church is a remarkable remnant of an old Augustinian foundation (Austin Friars) dating from at least 1354, if not from 100 years earlier. The Dutch congregation had held its religious services here since 1550, by virtue of a voluntary gift of Edward VI.”
It is unknown whether Vincent attended services at the church, but given his interest in the Christian faith, it is likely that he did.
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