St Mary's Church, Woodford facts for kids
St Mary's Church in Woodford, East London, is a very old church with a long history. It's located on the High Road in what is now South Woodford, part of the Redbridge area. People know this church has been around since at least the 1100s!
St Mary's Church: A Journey Through Time
St Mary's Church has seen many changes over hundreds of years. In the 1520s, a person named John Larke was the church's leader, called its rector.
The church's original tower and spire, which were very old, started to fall apart by 1705. So, in 1708, a new tower made of brick was built to replace them.
Later, in 1816, the main part of the church was largely rebuilt. It was designed in a style called Gothic Revival. This style looks like the old Gothic churches from the Middle Ages, but it was built much later.
As more people moved to the area, two new churches were built nearby to help serve the growing community. These were St Paul's in 1854 and All Saints in 1874. Both of these new churches were still part of the larger St Mary's parish.
Inside the Church
Before an event in 1969, the inside of St Mary's Church had many old memorials and tombs. One important tomb belonged to Bridget. She was the widow of Alexander Staples. Bridget was also the oldest daughter of Sir John Ernle, who was a very important financial advisor to King Charles II and King James II.
Today, the inside of the church looks modern. It has a special organ built by Grant, Degens and Bradbeer. This organ is similar to the one found in New College Oxford.
The Churchyard's Special Tree
The churchyard, which is the area around the church, is home to a very special tree. It's a Copper Beech tree, and it's known as one of the Great Trees of London.
