St Mary's, Bryanston Square facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary's, Bryanston Square |
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 St Mary's, Bryanston Square
Location in City of Westminster
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| 51°31′11″N 0°9′43″W / 51.51972°N 0.16194°W | |
| Location | Wyndham Place, Bryanston Square, London W1H 1PQ |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Charismatic evangelical |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architect(s) | Robert Smirke |
| Groundbreaking | 1823 |
| Completed | 1824 |
| Construction cost | £19,955 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St Mary, Bryanston Square with St Mark, Marylebone |
| Archdeaconry | Charing Cross |
| Diocese | London |
St Mary's, Bryanston Square is a special church in London, England. It's part of the Church of England and is named after the Virgin Mary. You can find it on Wyndham Place, right next to Bryanston Square. There's even a primary school nearby with the same name, which was started right next to the church!
Contents
A Look at St Mary's History
St Mary's, Bryanston Square was built a long time ago, between 1823 and 1824. It was one of the special churches called Commissioners' churches. A famous architect named Robert Smirke designed it. He wanted it to look grand from the end of Bryanston Square.
The church is made of brick. It has a rounded stone entrance, called a portico, and a round tower with a small dome and a cross on top. It's considered a very important building and is protected as a Grade I building.
Building the church cost about £19,955 back then. The Church Building Commission helped out by giving £14,955. The northern side of the church faces York Street.
Some interesting events happened here. Charles John Gardiner, 1st Earl of Blessington and Margaret Farmer got married in this church. Also, Samuel Augustus Barnett met his future wife, Henrietta, while he was working here as a curate between 1867 and 1868.
St Mary's Today
People often call this church "St Mary's Church London." This is because it's one of the main Anglican churches named St Mary's in central London. It's known for being an active part of the evangelical side of the Church of England.
The current group of people who attend the church started meeting here in 2002. They were given the building by the Bishop of London. Most of these people came from another church called St Paul's Onslow Square.
Leaders of St Mary's
Many rectors, or head priests, have led St Mary's over the years. Here are a few of them:
- Thomas Frognall Dibdin (1824–1847)
- John Hampden Gurney (1847–1862)
- Samuel Augustus Barnett (curate 1867–1868)
- Henry Russell Wakefield (1894–1910)
- Martin Gloster Sullivan (1962–1964)
- John Peters (2000–present)
Church Services
St Mary's holds two services every Sunday:
- An informal service at 11 AM, which includes groups for children and teenagers.
- Another informal service at 5:30 PM, which is for all ages but is especially popular with young working adults.
Groups and Courses
The church offers many groups and courses during the week. These are designed for different people and interests.
The Life Course
The Life Course is an eight-week program that runs three times a year. It helps people think about what gives life meaning. The course is a safe place to talk about different ideas. You don't need to have any particular beliefs to join. People who are agnostic, atheist, Christian, or from other faiths are all welcome.
Participants meet downstairs in the church hall for dinner. After dinner, there's a short talk to get everyone thinking. Then, people break into smaller groups to discuss. Topics include: "What meaning do we give our lives?", "Where do people look for meaning?", and "What evidence is there that true meaning can be found?". The course also has an optional weekend trip.
Helping Other Churches Grow
From 2004 to 2017, St Mary's helped start new churches and supported others that shared similar values. This is called "church planting." Here are some examples:
- In 2004, Mike and Bex Norris, who worked at St Mary's, started new services at St Paul's Church, Auckland.
- Jon and Jo Soper, also from St Mary's, started Exeter Network Church in 2005.
- Laura and Antley Fowler planted River City Church in Jacksonville, Florida, in 2005.
- Pete and Bee Hughes, who used to work at St Mary's, started KXC, Kings Cross Church, in 2010.
Other Activities
St Mary's is a long-time member of the New Wine network of churches. They often attend and lead talks at New Wine's summer conferences. The current rector, John Peters, is in charge of Prayer Ministry at New Wine. He also leads training days across the country for people who want to learn how to pray for others.
The Centre
Staff from St Mary's have created "The Centre." This organization focuses on helping families and improving relationships. The Centre offers different materials and courses to teach people how to have healthier relationships and better emotional well-being.
- Circle of Security training: These weekly sessions help parents build stronger relationships with their children. They also teach useful parenting strategies. Training for professionals like counselors is also offered.
- Seminars: The Centre holds evening talks that give advice on different age groups, such as babies, toddlers, and teenagers.
- Marriage preparation courses: These courses, in partnership with St Mary's, help couples who are engaged or have been together a long time. They provide tools and advice for a healthy relationship.
- Hold Me Tight courses: Also with St Mary's, these courses use ideas from Dr. Sue Johnson. They help married or long-term couples keep their relationships strong and healthy.
See also
