St Andrew's Church, Leytonstone facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Andrew's Church, Leytonstone |
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View of the eastern end of St Andrew's Church
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| Location | Colworth Road Leytonstone, London, E11 1JD |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Website | https://www.standrewsleytonstone.org/ |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Dedication | Andrew the Apostle |
| Dedicated | 1887 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Parish church |
| Heritage designation | Grade II listed |
| Designated | 27 February 2006 |
| Architect(s) | Arthur Blomfield |
| Style | Early English Gothic |
| Years built | 1886–1893 |
| Administration | |
| Archdeaconry | West Ham |
| Diocese | Chelmsford |
The Church of St Andrew, Leytonstone is a historic Church of England parish church located in Leytonstone, East London. It sits right next to Epping Forest. This beautiful Victorian era building is so special that it's been given a Grade II listed building status. This means it's protected because of its historical and architectural importance.
Contents
The Story of St Andrew's Church
How the Church Land Was Chosen
The land where St Andrew's Church stands was once part of a large estate called Wallwood. In 1817, a rich banker named William Cotton bought this estate. He later became the head of the Bank of England in 1843. William Cotton was also a very kind person who helped many charities. He even started three new churches in East End of London and gave money to over seventy others!
William Cotton passed away in 1866. His son, Sir Henry Cotton, sold the estate in 1874 so that houses could be built. However, he kept one piece of land next to Epping Forest. This special spot was saved to build a new church. It was meant to be a memorial to his father, William Cotton.
Building the Church: From Temporary to Permanent
In 1882, a temporary church was put up on the land. It was made of corrugated iron and was sometimes called a "tin tabernacle". This simple building was used for services while the main church was being planned. It was first called the Cotton Memorial Church.
In 1885, William Manning became the first person in charge of the church. Soon after, work began on the large new church building. It was designed by a famous architect, Sir Arthur Blomfield. The money for the church came from the Cotton family, a special fund from the Bishop of St Alban's, and from the new church members.
The first stone of the church was laid on June 18, 1886. A very important person, Prince Arthur, helped with the ceremony. The Lord Mayor of London and five bishops were also there. A record of the building work and a copy of The Times newspaper were sealed under the stone.
Opening the Church Doors
The Cotton family paid for the chancel (the area around the altar) as a memorial to William Cotton. This part was built to the highest standards. Once the chancel and the first three sections of the nave (the main part of the church) were finished, a temporary wall was put up. This allowed the church to be officially opened for services. The ceremony happened on April 30, 1887, led by Thomas Legh Claughton, the Bishop of St Albans.
On December 29, 1887, St Andrew's became its own separate church area. William Manning became its first vicar. The church members then worked hard to raise money to finish the western end of the building. This part was completed and dedicated on March 30, 1893.
Growing and Changing Over Time
St Andrew's quickly became the most popular church in the area. By 1903, over 1,500 people attended services on Sundays! In 1904, a church hall was built. It was designed in the Arts and Crafts style by Henry Charles Smart, an architect who lived nearby. A vestry (a room for clergy) was added in 1913.
By the late 1960s, fewer people were coming to church. To keep the building useful, some changes were made in 1977. The western part of the nave was separated from the rest of the church with a tall wooden wall. One section was even turned into a modern kitchen. The old church hall was later bought by the nearby Leytonstone School. Sadly, it burned down in 2002. New flats were built in its place.
On February 27, 2006, St Andrew's Church was officially given its Grade II listed building status.
Recent Events and Community Work
In June 2007, Rowan Williams, who was the Archbishop of Canterbury at the time, visited St Andrew's. He came with Eric Pickles, a government minister. They visited because the church works closely with the nearby Shri Nathji Sanatan Hindu Mandir.
Today, under the leadership of the current vicar, Father Paul Kennington, the church is seeking a grant. This money from the National Lottery Heritage Fund would help make improvements and fix some issues with the building.
What Does St Andrew's Church Look Like?
St Andrew's is a large and impressive building. It's built in the Early English Gothic style. This style uses strong stone called Kentish ragstone with smoother freestone for details. It also features knapped flint, which is a type of stone that has been shaped.
There's a thin, pointed spire called a flèche above the middle of the church. The church has entrances on its west and north sides. To the east, there's a large chancel. A newer vestry on the northeast side matches the church's style.
The front of the church (the west side) has a tall central window with two narrow, pointed windows called lancets and a round window above them. There's also a single lancet window on each side, with pointed decorations called pinnacles at the corners. Inside, the walls are made of red brick with stone details. The chancel area is faced with smooth stone and has carvings. The beautiful stained glass in the east windows dates back to 1892. The wooden altar has a painted lamb and angels.
The chancel roof is shaped like a wooden barrel. The nave roof has arched wooden beams. The original wooden pews (benches) in the nave and the choir stalls are made of shiny oak.
Beautiful Stained Glass Windows
Many of the stained glass windows in the nave were created by Margaret Chilton (1875–1963). She was a student of Christopher Whall. These windows were made between 1919 and 1957. The older windows, some of which remember soldiers from wars, are in the Arts and Crafts style. Her later work shows some expressionist influences, which means they express feelings and ideas. Together, these windows form the most important collection of her work in England.
The Church Organ
The church's pipe organ is very special. It was originally from St Jude's Church in Whitechapel and was brought to St Andrew's in 1889. In 1913, after raising money, the organ was completely rebuilt by the famous company Lewis & Co. The first concert on the new organ was on September 28, 1914.
A famous organist and composer, Healey Willan, also gave a concert at St Andrew's. The organ was repaired in the 1990s and again in 2012. When the leather parts of the bellows (which push air through the pipes) needed fixing, the choir and supporters held a "sponsored hymnathon." They sang every single hymn in The English Hymnal non-stop for 31 hours to raise money!
St Andrew's Church Today
The parish of St Andrew, Leytonstone, is part of the Diocese of Chelmsford. It's the smallest parish in its area. The church follows a liberal Anglo-Catholic style of worship, with the main service being the Sunday morning Eucharist.
The church building is a busy place for the community. Many different groups use the church centre. These include a preschool, a group for senior citizens, and art classes. A Scout Group meets there, and local councillors hold meetings for residents. It also provides a quiet space for teenagers to study and do their homework.
