St Mary's Church, Leyton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary with St Edward and St Luke's Church, Leyton |
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View of St Mary's Church from the southwest
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| Location | Church Road, Leyton, London, E10 5JP |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Website | https://saint.church/leyton |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Dedication | Mary the Virgin |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Parish church |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* listed |
| Designated | 27 May 1954 |
| Years built | 1658-1932 |
| Administration | |
| Archdeaconry | West Ham |
| Diocese | Chelmsford |
The Parish Church of St Mary with St Edward and St Luke, Leyton, often called Leyton Parish Church, is an important Church of England parish church in Leyton, East London. Records show a church here from around 1200. However, the building has been rebuilt many times. The oldest parts you see today are from 1658. Most of the church was built in the early 1800s. It is a special building, listed as Grade II*. This means it's a very important historic place.
Contents
A Look Back: The Church's Story
In a very old book from 1086 called the Domesday Book, it mentions two priests in Leyton. This suggests there was a church building even then. The first clear record of a church is from around 1200. At that time, the church and land in Leyton were given to a monastery called Stratford Langthorne Abbey.
Early Church Leaders
The first time a vicar (a church leader) is mentioned is in 1254. His yearly pay was only 40 shillings (about £2). Most of the money from tithes (payments to the church) went to Langthorne Abbey and another monastery, Holywell Priory.
By 1537, there was a house for the vicar, called a vicarage, near where Vicarage Road and Leyton High Road meet today. By 1650, this house was in bad shape. It was then rented to a poor woman.
A New Home for the Vicar
In 1677–1678, a new vicarage was built. A famous historian named John Strype helped pay for it. Strype became an assistant church leader, or curate, in 1669. He stayed in this role for 68 years until he died in 1737!
Before Strype, the vicar was Samuel Keme or Keene. He was also a soldier in the New Model Army during the First English Civil War. People said he would preach sermons at Leyton while still wearing his military uniform.
Growing Pains: Making Space in the Church
In 1962, workers found the foundations of the very old medieval church. It had a nave (the main part where people sit) and a chancel (the area near the altar) that were so small they fit inside the modern nave.
In 1658, the old bell tower was falling apart. It was replaced with the red brick tower you see today. A new section, called a north aisle, was also added. In 1693, the chancel was rebuilt because it was too narrow for people to receive Holy Communion. It got a round window at the east end.
More space was needed inside. In 1711, the gallery (a raised seating area) at the west end was rebuilt and made bigger. In 1817, another gallery was put in the chancel. This one could hold 100 boys from the Sunday school.
A Big Change in 1822
Even with these changes, the church was still too small. In 1822, the vicar complained that many people had to stand in the aisles during services. This made it hard for everyone. Plans to make the church bigger had been made in 1811-1812, but there wasn't enough money.
Then, in 1822, something amazing happened. A person known only as "The Old Parishioner" gave a huge amount of money: £1,000! Other church members also gave money, more than doubling that amount. This allowed the work to begin.
A new brick south aisle was added. It has unique Y-shaped window designs. A new arch for the chancel and clerestories (upper walls with windows) were built. These were made of wood and plaster, supported by thin cast iron columns. The whole church got a new roof. The tower was also made taller in 1806 and got new decorative parts in 1822. Other improvements included buying a pipe organ and building a new room for the clergy (vestry) and churchyard walls.
Later Updates and Repairs
Over the years, St Mary's continued to be updated:
- In 1853, a new east window was installed.
- In 1884, a new baptistery (where baptisms happen) was built in the southwest corner.
- During repairs in 1889, a new altar and stained glass for the east window were given to the church.
- In 1920, an oak screen for the chancel and an altar-piece showing Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper were added as a war memorial.
A big plan to restore the church started in 1929. This included making the nave longer and replacing the old chancel arch and clerestory with stronger concrete. The iron columns were also covered in concrete. Oval windows were added to the sanctuary (the area around the altar).
In 1935, the old vestry was repaired, and a special window called an oriel window was added over the south door. The church was damaged by bombs in 1951, but these repairs were quickly made. The nave floor was replaced in 1961. Two years later, the chancel screen was moved to the west end of the nave.
After a fire in 1995, a small chapel was created under the tower. The baptistry and south entrance were also updated.
Important People of St Mary's
The church has many memorials to important people who were part of its history. These include Sir Michael Hicks (1543–1612) and his family. There are also memorials created by famous artists like John Flaxman. These honor people like William Bosanquet and Samuel Bosanquet. Other notable people remembered here include Sir John Strange and Sir Henry Cheere.
St Mary's and Other Churches
For a long time, St Mary's was the only Anglican church in Leyton. In 1749, a smaller church, called a chapel of ease, opened in Leytonstone. This was later replaced in 1833 by St John the Baptist's Church. St John's became its own separate church area in 1845.
By 1903, there were nine Anglican churches and twelve smaller mission churches in the area! Over the years, some of these churches closed. St Edward's Church closed in 1968, and St Luke's Church closed in 1982. Their church areas then joined back with St Mary's.
St Mary's Church was officially recognized as a Grade II* listed building in 1954. This means it is a very important historical and architectural building.
