Anglotopia Podcast: Episode 34 – How a Sir Christopher Wren Church Ended Up in Missouri as a Churchill Museum

As part of our ongoing series of special podcasts about Winston Churchill in the build-up to the International Churchill Conference in October, this week we interview Timothy Riley, the Sandra L. and Monroe E. Trout Director and Chief Curator of America’s National Churchill Museum. We’ll discuss the history of just how a Sir Christopher Wren church ended up in Fulton, Missouri, and its connections to Winston Churchill. We’ll also talk about the museum’s mission to promote Churchill’s life and legacy through interactive exhibitions and educational programs. The museum houses a collection of artifacts, including Churchill’s paintings and speeches. Riley shares his favorite Churchill quote, story, book, and film. Links America’s National Churchill Museum Website International Churchill Conference Churchill’s Iron Curtain Speech Painting as a Pastime Essay Painting As a Pastime on Amazon Takeaways The Sir Christopher Wren church in Fulton, Missouri, was brought from London to honor Winston Churchill’s visit to Westminster College and his Iron Curtain speech. America’s National Churchill Museum promotes Churchill’s life and legacy through interactive exhibitions and educational programs. The museum houses a collection of artifacts, including Churchill’s paintings and speeches. The museum has a special relationship with the Churchill Center and the International Churchill Society. Timothy Riley’s favorite Churchill quote is ‘Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.’ Riley shares an anecdote about Churchill’s wit and humor during a dinner party. He recommends reading Churchill’s essay ‘Are We Alone in the Universe?’ to understand his curiosity and thought process. Riley’s favorite Churchill films are ‘Darkest Hour’ and ‘The Gathering Storm.’ Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Recording Setup 00:24 The Unlikely Journey of a Sir Christopher Wren Church to Fulton, Missouri 06:00 Honoring Winston Churchill’s Visit and the Iron Curtain Speech 13:11 Preserving Churchill’s Legacy at America’s National Churchill Museum 16:44 Exploring Churchill’s Life and Contributions at the Museum 25:21 Winston Churchill: The Writer and Nobel Laureate 26:39 Churchill’s Unpublished Essay on Extraterrestrial Life 28:40 The International Churchill Conference and the Churchill Memorial 32:13 Preservation Work on the Churchill Memorial in Fulton 37:20 Favorite Churchill Quote: ‘Study History’ 40:17 Recommended Book: ‘Painting as a Pastime’ 41:12 Favorite Churchill Film: ‘The Gathering Storm’ and ‘Darkest Hour’