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 very old church in London, England. It used to be an Anglican church, but now it's a Romanian Orthodox church. This special building is protected as a Grade I listed building, which means it's super important! The Churches Conservation Trust helps look after it.
Contents
History of Old St Andrew's Church
The church you see today was built in the 12th or 13th century. It's thought to be the oldest building still standing in the Brent area. But there was an even older church here before, possibly from the Saxon times.
Around 1244–1248, the church was given to the Knights Hospitaller, a group of knights. By 1393, it 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.
However, by 1796, the church was in bad shape. It had a big repair job in 1840. During this time, some parts like the south porch and the roof decorations were taken away. The outside was covered in a rough plaster, and a new room for church workers was built.
The small tower for the bell was rebuilt in 1870. Another repair happened in 1888. The old room for church workers was removed, and a new one was built on the north side. In 1906, the roof got new tiles. There was another repair in 1955.
In 1884, a new church was built nearby. It was called Holy Innocents. Old St Andrew's then became a "chapel of ease." This meant it was a smaller church used for 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, also named Saint Andrew, was built close to the old one. This new church had a cool history! It was originally built in 1847 in Marylebone, London. It was taken apart, moved, and rebuilt right here in Kingsbury!
The old church was no longer needed for regular services from April 1, 1977. It was then officially given to the Churches Conservation Trust on October 7, 2010.
New Use for the Old Church
In 2008, the Church of England allowed Old St Andrew's Church to be used by the growing Romanian community in north-west London. Then, in 2012, the Romanian Orthodox Church was given a 20-year agreement to use the church for their worship. This means the old church is still a busy place of faith today!
Architecture of Old St Andrew's Church
St Andrew's Church is built with flint stones covered in a special plaster called render. You can even spot some old Roman bricks and tiles in its walls!
The church has a simple design. It has a main hall called a nave and a special area for the altar called a chancel, all in one open space. There's also a small room on the north side for church workers. At the west end, there's a small tower with a pointy top called a turret and a spire.
Inside, you'll find some interesting old items:
- The font, used for baptisms, is probably from the 13th century. It has a round bowl with eight sides on top, sitting on a new base.
- The oak lectern, where readings are given, is from the 17th century. A famous British Prime Minister, W. E. Gladstone, once used it to read a lesson when he visited the church!
- There are also three special metal plaques called brasses. The oldest one dates back to 1520.
- The church has three bells. One is from around 1350, another from 1604, and the newest from 1708. Imagine how many times they've rung over the centuries!
Churchyard Features
Outside the church, in the churchyard, there are six important structures. Each of these is also a Grade II listed building, meaning they are historically important.
Four of these are old tombstones:
- One for Timothy Wetherilt, who passed away in 1741.
- Another for Henry Wetherilt, who died in the same year.
- A tombstone for Thomas Raworth, from 1744.
- And one for Edwin Austin Abbey, a famous American painter, who died in 1911.
The other two structures are:
- A monument for William Frederick Ashton, who died in 1802.
- And the chest tomb of Joseph Finch, who passed away in 1776.
See also
