St Mary's Church, Hendon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary's Church, Hendon |
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St Mary's Church viewed from Church End
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| Location | Church House, 49 Church End, Hendon, London NW4 4JT |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Founded | in 1080 or before |
| Founder(s) | unknown |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Architect(s) | various |
| Style | English Gothic |
| Years built | 1080, and two main further building phases |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St Mary and Christ Church, Hendon |
| Deanery | Barnet |
| Archdeaconry | Hampstead |
| Episcopal area | Edmonton |
| Diocese | London |
St Mary's Church is a very old Church of England church in Hendon, which is part of the London Borough of Barnet. It's the oldest church in this area! St Mary's and Christ Church, Brent Street, work together as one big church family in the Diocese of London.
Contents
History of St Mary's Church
The history of St Mary's Church might go back to a time called Anglo-Saxon England. This was long before the Norman Conquest in 1066. An old record from "959" says that Westminster Abbey owned the church.
Early Beginnings and the Domesday Book
In 1086, a priest was mentioned in the Domesday Book. This was a huge survey of England ordered by William the Conqueror. This mention strongly suggests a church was already there. Six years earlier, in 1080, a church was officially recorded. Digs nearby have even found very old Anglo-Saxon graves.
Building Through the Centuries
The first church we know for sure was built around 1080. A special bowl for baptisms, called a Norman font, is still used today. In the 1200s, more parts were added. These included the main part of the church (the nave), a chapel, and a north aisle. You can still see traces of old paintings on the walls from this time.
Later, in the 1400s and 1500s, the church was built up even more. The tall tower and the south arcade (a row of arches) were built during this period.
Modern Additions to the Church
In 1914 and 1915, the church got even bigger. A famous architect named Temple Moore designed a larger nave. His work was highly praised by Sir Nikolaus Pevsner, a well-known writer about buildings. Pevsner said Moore's design made the old church look even better. He added new parts while still respecting the original old building.
Since 1950, St Mary's Church has been a "Grade II* listed" building. This means it's a very important historic building. It has special protection to make sure it stays safe for the future.
Memorials and the Churchyard
St Mary's Church has many interesting memorials inside. One of the most important is for Sir Stamford Raffles. He was the person who founded Singapore! Sir Stamford Raffles lived nearby and was buried in the church after he died in 1826.
Exploring the Churchyard
The churchyard around St Mary's is also special. It's a "Site of Local Importance for Nature Conservation." This means it's a great place for local wildlife and plants. It's connected to the nearby Sunny Hill Park.
You can find the grave of Herbert Chapman here. He was a very famous manager for Arsenal Football Club before World War II. The churchyard also has memorials for twenty soldiers from the Commonwealth. Eleven were from World War I and nine from World War II. Many of these memorials are for soldiers whose graves couldn't be found.
St Mary's Church Today
Today, the church is looked after by a vicar and a curate. They help lead the church services and support the local community.
See also
- St Mary's Churchyard, Hendon
- List of church restorations and alterations by Temple Moore
