St Mary's Church, Charing Cross Road facts for kids

Drawing of the planned church, around 1870

St Mary's Church, Charing Cross Road was an Anglican church in London. It was located on Charing Cross Road in Westminster. The church started in 1851. Before it, an older church called 'The Greek Church' stood there. St Mary's was never completely finished. Only parts like the chancel and a side aisle were built. The building was taken down in the 1930s.

About St Mary's Church

Planned layout of the church

The area around St Mary's Church was first part of a larger church area. This was the parish of St Anne's Church, Soho. In 1854, St Mary's became its own separate parish. This meant it had its own church community. It was part of the Diocese of London, which is a church district.

In 1900, a famous musician named Leopold Stokowski worked at St Mary's. He formed and trained the church choir. He also played the organ there.

The Church's End

In 1932, St Mary's Church joined back with St Anne's Church. By the end of 1934, the church building had been taken down. A stone from the old church, which was from the 1600s, was saved. This stone had a Greek message on it. It was given to the Greek Orthodox cathedral of Aghia Sophia in Bayswater. It was put up there again.

Another important stone from 1900 was also saved. This stone was put up in the church of St. Mary the Virgin, Kenton, in Middlesex. This new church was built with money from selling the land where St Mary's Church used to be. The land was sold in March 1935. The London County Council bought it. They used the site for a new building for the Saint Martin's School of Art.