An extravagant love
The Crossness Pumping Station is a former sewage treatment plant on the south bank of the River Thames. It was designed by Sir Joseph Bazalgette and built between 1859 and 1865. Its purpose was to deal with the raw sewage from the southern part of London. When it became no longer used for this purpose, it was designated as a Grade 1 Listed Industrial Heritage Site because of its amazing Romanesque architecture and design. It is a masterpiece of engineering with its pumps and steam engines but became famous for its spectacular ornamental cast iron metalwork and original paint colours. It has been described as “a masterpiece of engineering-a Victorian cathedral of ironwork.”
Why was a sewage treatment plant designed with such love, care, extravagance and incredibly beautiful interiors? Each detail, down to the specially shaped and coloured external brickwork and ornate balustrades of the central Octagon area, are a delight to behold. It is a masterpiece of work that few people at the time would have witnessed. The sole purpose of this unique and magnificently ornate building was to take London’s sewage. The glory of the building and its dramatic interiors concealed this very common function. The Victorian designers took pride in their workmanship, attention to detail, making sure that nothing was common or base. A common theme and desire of Victorian craftsmen and women were to give glory to God and to reflect His glory.
Our Father God is a wonderful Creator, designer. His extravagant love leads Him to create. As we look at our world and the canopy of stars we can stand in awe of Him and worship.
The Lord merely spoke, and the heavens were created.
He breathed the word, and all the stars were born.
He assigned the sea its boundaries and locked the oceans in vast reservoirs. the whole world fear the Lord, and let everyone stand in awe of him.
For when he spoke, the world began, It appeared at his command.
He breathed the word, and all the stars were born.
He assigned the sea its boundaries and locked the oceans in vast reservoirs. the whole world fear the Lord, and let everyone stand in awe of him.
For when he spoke, the world began, It appeared at his command.
Psalm 33 v 6-9 NLT
His love created humankind, each person uniquely formed, His work of art, a masterpiece designed by a loving Craftsman.
For we are His workmanship, His own master work, a work of art, created in Christ Jesus, reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used for good works, which God prepared for us before and taking paths which He set, so that we would walk in them, living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us. Ephesians 2 v 10 AMP
At the close of time, we will see the new heavens, the new earth and the new Jerusalem. Our feet will walk on gold, with no need for sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light.
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
The wall was made of jasper, and the city was pure gold, as clear as glass. The wall of the city was built on foundation stones inlaid with twelve precious stones: the first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were made of pearls—each gate from a single pearl! And the main street was pure gold, as clear as glass. I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.
Revelation 21 NLT
SONG So will I (100 Billion X) Hillsong Worship
Jane Coates.
31 January 2025