Editing Highgate (section)

== Religion ==
[[File:St Michael, South Grove, London N6 - geograph.org.uk - 307883.jpg|thumb|St Michael's Church]]
[[File:St Joseph's Church, Highgate - geograph.org.uk - 370060.jpg|thumb|St Joseph's Church]]
Highgate's main [[Church of England]] parish church, [[St Michael's Church, Highgate|St Michael's]], is situated close to the summit of the hill, and is the highest church in Greater London. It was built as one of the [[Commissioners' church]]es in 1831 and consecrated and opened on 8 November 1832. The architect was [[Lewis Vulliamy]], and in 1831 his original drawings for the church were exhibited at the [[Royal Academy of Arts]].<ref name="History of St Michael's">{{cite web|last=Sainsbury|first=Roger|title=St Michael's Highgate - History|url=https://www.stmichaelshighgate.org/Groups/230427/History.aspx|publisher=Official website|access-date=14 March 2018|archive-date=1 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801165428/https://www.stmichaelshighgate.org/Groups/230427/History.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>

From the late 17th century until 1830 Ashhurst House, the home of former [[Lord Mayor of London]] Sir [[William Ashhurst]], stood on the site of the church. The remains of the house's cellar now form part of the church's crypt.<ref name="History of St Michael's"/>

The church's spire, built of [[Bath stone]], with a cross of [[Portland stone]], is a landmark on London's northern skyline.<ref name="History of St Michael's"/>

Inside, the [[chancel]] and choir stalls were done by [[G. E. Street]] in 1880. The [[pulpit]] dates from 1848. The present bench pews date from 1879, replacing [[box pews]]. The present organ is by Hill and Davidson, and was installed in 1885, replacing an earlier instrument of 1842. It was overhauled in 1985.<ref name="History of St Michael's"/>

There is a monument to [[Samuel Taylor Coleridge]] and his family in the form of a slate slab in the middle of the church.<ref name="History of St Michael's"/>

The church was damaged in the [[Second World War]] by enemy air raids and the present stained glass window at the east end was installed in 1954, replacing a window broken in the Blitz. It is one of the last works by [[Evie Hone]] and depicts the [[Last Supper]].<ref name="History of St Michael's"/>

Further down Highgate Hill is the town's [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] parish church, [[St Joseph's Church, Highgate|St Joseph's]]. It was designed by Albert Vickers, and built in 1888, replacing an earlier, smaller church of 1861. Although St Joseph's Church was opened in 1889 by the [[Archbishop of Liverpool|Bishop of Liverpool]], it was not until 1932, when its debts were cleared, that it was officially consecrated.<ref name="St Joseph's">{{cite web|url=http://www.stjosephshighgate.org.uk/stjosephstourofchurch.html|title=St Joseph's: About our Church|publisher=Official website|access-date=14 March 2018|archive-date=9 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210609105120/http://www.stjosephshighgate.org.uk/stjosephstourofchurch.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The church has a distinctive copper [[dome]] with a green patina, and the interior of the dome was painted by [[Nathaniel Westlake]] in 1891. The organ is by William Hill and Sons, and installed in 1945 as a memorial to the local victims of the Second World War.<ref name="St Joseph's"/>