The poor man's angel

I don't know how many Londoners are aware that this familiar landmark is the national memorial to the greatest Christian social reformer this country has ever produced - but the children of St James's School definitely do know.

Today in our assembly series on famous Christians we heard about the amazing work of Lord Shaftesbury setting up ragged schools for the poor and legislating to stop little boys being sent up chimneys.

In a long parliamentary career he campaigned for a host of other causes, including the rduction of working hours for children, better care for the mentally ill, and the ending of child labour in mines - and everything he did he did a deep Christian motivation.

When he died, London's poor lined the streets in a mark of respect for the great man who had campaigned relentlessly on their behalf and the 'Poor Man's Earl' was commemorated by construction of the Shaftesbury Memorial at Piccadilly Circus (above).

By the way, that's not Eros on the top there. It's actually the 'Angel of Christian Charity.'

As Michael Caine might say: not a lot of people know that.