St Mary's Church, Somers Town facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary's Church, Somers Town |
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| Church of St Mary | |
St Mary's Church in Somers Town
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| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Traditional Catholic |
| Website | http://www.posp.co.uk/st-marys/ |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Old St Pancras |
| Deanery | South Camden |
| Archdeaconry | Hampstead |
| Episcopal area | Edmonton |
| Diocese | London |
St Mary's Church is a Church of England church located on Eversholt Street in Somers Town, which is part of the London Borough of Camden.
A Look at St Mary's Church History
St Mary's Church was designed by Henry William Inwood. It was built between 1824 and 1827 by I. T. Seabrook. The church was first planned as a "chapel of ease" for St Pancras Old Church. A chapel of ease is a smaller church built for people who live far from the main parish church.
The money for building the church came from a special grant from the government. However, local taxes helped pay for the church's inside decorations and the land it was built on. The church was officially opened and blessed on March 11, 1826. After it opened, it became well-known in the area.
In its early days, the church was sometimes called "Mr. Judkin's Chapel" or "Seymour Street Chapel." A famous writer, Charles Dickens, attended this church when he was a schoolboy. He lived nearby with his family at 13 Cranleigh Street.
Over the years, the church's inside look changed a few times. In 1874, J K Colling worked on the interior. Then, in 1890, R C Reade made more changes. He added decorative patterns to the windows and removed a balcony that was at the west end of the church. In 1888, a chancel (the part of the church near the altar) was added, and the side balconies were taken out.
St Mary's Church is considered an important historical building. On June 10, 1954, it was given a special status as a Grade II listed building. This means it is a building of special interest that needs to be protected.
St Mary's Church Today
From 2003 to 2023, St Mary's Church was part of a group of churches called the Old St Pancras Team Ministry. This group also included St Michael's Church, Camden Town, St Pancras Old Church, and St Paul's Church, Camden Square. Now, all four of these churches are independent again.
Important People at St Mary's Church
Many dedicated people have served at St Mary's Church. Here are a couple of notable clergy members:
- Basil Jellicoe worked as a Missioner with the Magdalen College Mission. This mission helped people in the Somers Town area and worked closely with the church.
- Rob Wickham was a curate (a type of assistant priest) at the church from 2001 to 2003. He later became a bishop in Edmonton.
