St Andrew's Church, Totteridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Andrew's church, Totteridge |
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St Andrew's Church, Totteridge
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| 51°37′56″N 0°12′01″W / 51.63234°N 0.20022°W | |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Website | Official website: http://www.totteridgechurch.org.uk |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Totteridge |
| Deanery | Barnet |
| Archdeaconry | Hertford |
| Diocese | St Albans |
St Andrew's Church is a special place of worship for the Church of England in Totteridge, north London. It's part of the Diocese of St Albans, which is like a local church district. This is quite unique, as not many churches in Greater London belong to this particular diocese.
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Discover St Andrew's Church
St Andrew's is a historic church with a long and interesting past. It has been a central part of the Totteridge community for many centuries.
A Look Back in Time
The church was likely first mentioned around the year 1250. Back then, it was connected to St Etheldreda's Church in Hatfield. The church was named after St Etheldreda, a princess born around 630 AD. She was the daughter of a Christian king in East Anglia.
Over time, her name, Etheldreda, changed to "Audrey." During the Protestant Reformation, a big religious change, people sometimes called the church by both names. Later, between the 1500s and late 1600s, the name changed again to St Andrew. This might have happened because people preferred names of saints from the Bible. Also, the written name "Audrey" could easily be mistaken for "Andrew."
In 1650, during the time of the Commonwealth, officials suggested that Totteridge Church should become its own separate parish. A parish is like a local church area with its own priest. However, it took nearly 250 years for this to happen! After some disagreements, Totteridge finally became a separate parish in 1892. A vicar, or priest, was then appointed to look after the 785 people living there.
Building the Church We See Today
The church building has changed quite a bit over the years. The weather vane, which shows wind direction, on top of the church dates back to 1706. It has the initials "R.B." for Richard Burdett, who was a churchwarden at the time.
In 1790, the church was completely rebuilt and made larger. A key person involved was William Manning. He was a very important banker, serving as the Governor of the Bank of England. His son, Henry Manning, later became a famous cardinal. So, the church you see today was mostly built in the 1700s and 1800s.
Key Building Changes
- 1790: The main part of the church, called the nave, was built.
- 1845: A porch was added at the west end of the church.
- 1869: The east wall was removed, and the chancel, the area near the altar, was built. At the same time, the old spire was taken down. Smaller rooms for the vestry (where clergy prepare) and the organ were added. Stone windows were put in, and a new wooden roof was built over the nave. An old gallery inside the church was also removed.
- 1897: A larger vestry was built on the north side.
- 1908: The inside of the church was decorated with oak wood panels.
- 1925: Clocks for the church tower were donated. They came from the stables of a nearby estate called Poynter's Grove, which was being torn down.
- 1952: The church tower was rebuilt. Two pillars were added at the west end to help support its weight. Any remaining galleries and wooden structures were also removed.
Special Features Around the Church
The lychgate, which is a covered gateway into the churchyard, was built in 1930. It was designed by Sir Charles Nicholson and built to remember Lady Barrett of Totteridge Park.
The churchyard is also home to a very old yew tree. Experts believe this tree could be 2000 years old! If true, it would be the oldest tree in London. It is even listed as one of the "Great Trees of London."
St Andrew's Church has been recognized as a Grade II listed building since 1950. This means it's an important historic building that needs to be protected.
Famous People Buried at St Andrew's
The churchyard and inside the church are the resting places for several notable people:
- Sir Alexander Maitland, 1st Baronet (1728–1820): He is buried in the churchyard. There is also a special plaque inside the church that remembers him and his family.
- Anthony Barton (1913–1943): A brave officer in the Royal Air Force during World War II. He was awarded the DFC twice for his courage.
- Dai Rees (1913–1983): A famous golfer who captained the Great Britain Ryder Cup team in 1957. He also won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award in the same year.
