St. Mary's Church, Walthamstow facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Mary's Church, Walthamstow |
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
View of St. Mary's Church from the southeast
|
|
| Location | Walthamstow Village, London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Website | https://www.stmaryswalthamstow.org/ |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Parish church |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* listed |
| Designated | 19 October 1951 |
| Administration | |
| Archdeaconry | West Ham |
| Diocese | Chelmsford |
St. Mary's Church in Walthamstow is an old and active Church of England parish church. It is located in Walthamstow Village, a special historic area in East London. The church was first built in the 1100s. Today, it still has more than 150 old brass plaques and monuments. The oldest one is from 1436. Only a few parts of the very first church, like some pillar bases, remain from the 12th century.
Contents
A Look at the Church's History
The Church's Early Days
The very first church here was built in the 1100s. It was about 15 meters (46 feet) long and 8 meters (24 feet) wide. This first building likely stood where the main part of the church, called the nave, is today. It also had a chancel (the area around the altar) at the east end.
In the 1200s, the north side of the church was rebuilt. The south side was rebuilt in the 1300s. Both of these parts, called aisles, extended only as far as the chancel arch. In the 1400s, a tower was added to the west end. The chancel was also made longer towards the east.
Changes in the 1500s
In 1535, a rich London merchant named Sir George Monoux helped repair the north aisle. He also built a chapel (a small church area) at its eastern end. At the same time, Sir Monoux rebuilt the top 12 meters (40 feet) of the tower. He used Tudor brick and added a spiral staircase in a small turret.
That same year, money from another wealthy merchant, Robert Thorne, helped rebuild the south aisle completely. A chapel was also added to its eastern end.
Updates in the 1700s and 1800s
In the 1700s, galleries (balconies for extra seating) were added inside the church. The first one was built at the west end in 1710. More galleries were added in the north and south aisles later.
By 1819, these galleries were connected. The walls of the nave were made taller. The old windows were bricked up, and new Gothic revival style windows were put in. In 1843, the rest of the church walls were made taller to match. The pillars in the nave were also made taller and reshaped. Only the bases of these pillars are left from the original 12th-century church. A round rose window was also added to the east wall.
In 1876, the galleries were made narrower. An old plaster ceiling was removed, and a new roof of stained wood was installed. The private box pews (enclosed seating areas) were replaced with open benches. These benches were later replaced by the current pews in the 1920s. Oak wood panels were added as a First World War memorial. In 1939, carved oak Choir stalls were given to the church.
Repairs and War Damage
In 1936, the east wall of the church needed major repairs. During this work, the church was extended 3 meters (12 feet) to the east. Vestries (rooms for clergy) were built on either side. A large window in the Perpendicular Gothic style was added to the east end in 1939.
St. Mary's Church was badly damaged during the Second World War. On October 4, 1940, the south aisle roof was destroyed by incendiary bombs. The gallery on that side was later taken down to get wood for repairs. On October 8, 1944, a bomb damaged the north side of the church tower. It turned out the "bomb" was an old lead coffin broken open by falling debris.
During the spring of 1942, most of the metal railings around the churchyard were removed. This metal was used to help the war effort. Only the north and south gates remained.
Post-War Restoration and Modern Changes
After the war, the church was restored. A new heating system was installed, and the organ was rebuilt. The railings outside were replaced in 1955. In the early 1960s, the east end of the south aisle was changed to create a side chapel.
Between 1995 and 2001, the church underwent a big renovation. Some pews were removed from the west end. The floor was redone, and a larger entrance area was created. During this work, some of the crypts (underground burial chambers) were rediscovered. Old oak beams from the 16th century were found and restored. A disabled toilet and refreshment area were also added.
In 2001, the floor of the chancel was lowered and extended into the nave. This created an open space for worship. Communion can now be celebrated at the front of the nave.
Restoring the Church Bells
In 2016, a big project began to restore the church's 10 bells. The goal was to make sure they could be rung for at least another 100 years. The last major work on the bells was in 1896. In February 2016, the bells were removed and sent to a special foundry for cleaning and re-tuning. New parts were made for them.
The bells returned in September 2016. They were put back into their 1896 cast iron frame. New sound control shutters were added. These can be closed when the bells are rung for a long time, like during a "peal" which lasts about three hours. Today, the bells are rung regularly thanks to this restoration.
Future Plans for the Church
In 2019, St. Mary's announced it received a large grant to restore and update the church building. This project, called "Creative Church," aims to make the old building more suitable for community arts and cultural events. It will also secure its future as a working church.
Plans include removing pews for more flexible seating. A new extension will create a new entrance and gallery space. There will also be a cafe with an outdoor serving window. The sound system and lighting will be upgraded. Three more toilets will be added, along with heritage displays. The church's two back vestries will also be renovated. Free community arts and heritage activities are also planned.
The Churchyard
The churchyard is the area around the church. It contains war graves for three service members from World War I and nine from World War II.
The churchyard also has a special project called "Burials in Bloom." Local residents can "adopt" a grave that is not often visited. Many residents have joined this community gardening project. In 2021, St. Mary's Churchyard won an award for its churchyard category.
St. Mary's Today
St. Mary's is a very active church today. It has a large and diverse group of people who attend services. The church is also involved in supporting its local community.
The church is now also used as a place for music and recording. It has hosted "Music in the Village" concerts and other local groups. The Stow (Walthamstow) Festival has also used the church as a venue.
St. Mary's is home to the St. Mary's Music Hall. This is a series of world, folk, and jazz concerts. While the church is being renovated, these concerts have moved to another local church.
