Old St Andrew's Church, Kingsbury facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Old St Andrew's Church, Kingsbury |
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Old St Andrew's Church, Kingsbury, from the southwest
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| Location | London Borough of Brent, Greater London |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Romanian Orthodox Church |
| Website | Churches Conservation Trust Romanian Cultural Centre |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Dedication | Saint Andrew |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 6 October 1952 |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Rendered flint rubble, with some Roman material |
Old St Andrew's Church, Kingsbury, is a special old church in Kingsbury, a part of Brent in Greater London, England. It used to be an Anglican church, but now it's a Romanian Orthodox church. This church is very important! It's listed as a Grade I historic building. This means it's protected because it's so old and special. The Churches Conservation Trust helps take care of it.
Contents
History of Old St Andrew's Church
This church building was built a very long time ago. It dates back to the 12th or 13th century. People think it's the oldest building still standing in Brent. But there might have been an even older church on this spot. That first church could have been there during the Saxon period.
Around the years 1244–1248, the church was given to the Knights Hospitaller. This was a group of knights who helped people. In 1393, the church was dedicated to two saints: Saint Andrew and Saint John the Baptist. Over the years, in the 14th and 15th centuries, parts of the church were changed and added.
By 1796, the church was in bad shape. It was falling apart. In 1840, it had a big "restoration." This means it was repaired and made new again. During this time, the south porch was taken away. The roof decorations and a special screen called a "rood screen" were also removed. The outside of the church was covered in a rough plaster. A gallery was added inside, and a brick room called a "vestry" was built.
The small tower where the bells hang, called a "bellcote," was rebuilt in 1870. Another restoration happened in 1888. The old vestry was removed, and a new one was built on the north side. In 1906, the roof got new tiles. The church was repaired again in 1955.
Changes to the Church's Use
In 1884, a new church was built nearby. It was called the Holy Innocents church. Old St Andrew's then became a "chapel of ease." This means it was a smaller church used by people who lived far from the main parish church.
By the late 1920s, more people lived in the area. The Holy Innocents church became too small. So, in 1933, a brand new church was built. It was also named after Saint Andrew. This new church was built close to the old one. It was actually an old church from Wells Street in Marylebone, London. That church was taken apart, moved, and rebuilt in Kingsbury!
Old St Andrew's Church was no longer needed for regular services starting on April 1, 1977. It was then given to the Churches Conservation Trust on October 7, 2010. This trust helps to look after old churches that are not used for worship anymore.
New Life for Old St Andrew's
In 2008, the Church of England allowed Old St Andrew's Church to be used again. It became a place of worship for the growing Romanian community in north-west London. Then, in 2012, the Romanian Orthodox Church was given a twenty-year lease. This means they can use the church as their place of worship for that time.
Architecture and Features
Old St Andrew's Church is built from flint stones covered in a plaster called "rendered stucco." It even has some old bricks and tiles from Roman times! The church has a simple design. It has a main hall called a "nave" and a smaller area for the altar called a "chancel." These two parts are connected. There's also a vestry on the north side. At the west end, there's a small tower called a "turret" with a pointed top called a "spire."
The font, which is a basin used for baptisms, is probably from the 13th century. It's a round bowl with eight sides on its rim. It sits on a new base. The wooden stand for reading, called a "lectern," is from the 17th century. A famous person named W. E. Gladstone used this lectern when he visited the church. He read a lesson from it.
Inside the church, you can also see three special metal plaques called "monumental brasses." The oldest one is from 1520. The church has three bells. One bell is from about 1350, another from 1604, and the third from 1708.
Churchyard and Monuments
Outside the church, in the churchyard, there are six special structures. Each of these is listed as a Grade II historic site. Four of them are tombstones. These mark the graves of Timothy Wetherilt (who died in 1741), Henry Wetherilt (who died in the same year), Thomas Raworth (who died in 1744), and Edwin Austin Abbey. Edwin Austin Abbey was an American painter who passed away in 1911.
The other two structures are a monument for William Frederick Ashton, who died in 1802. The last one is a chest tomb, which is a tomb shaped like a chest, for Joseph Finch, who died in 1776.
See also
