St Mary's, Bryanston Square facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary's, Bryanston Square |
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 St Mary's, Bryanston Square
Location in City of Westminster
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| 51°31′11″N 0°9′43″W / 51.51972°N 0.16194°W | |
| Location | Wyndham Place, Bryanston Square, London W1H 1PQ |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Charismatic evangelical |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architect(s) | Robert Smirke |
| Groundbreaking | 1823 |
| Completed | 1824 |
| Construction cost | £19,955 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St Mary, Bryanston Square with St Mark, Marylebone |
| Archdeaconry | Charing Cross |
| Diocese | London |
St Mary's, Bryanston Square, is a Church of England church in London. It is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. You can find it on Wyndham Place, near Bryanston Square. A nearby primary school also shares the same name.
Contents
History of the Church Building
St Mary's, Bryanston Square, was built between 1823 and 1824. It was one of the "Commissioners' churches." These were churches built with money from the government after the Napoleonic Wars. The famous architect Robert Smirke designed it. He wanted it to be a beautiful sight at the end of Bryanston Square.
The church is made of brick with a round stone entrance. It has a round tower and a small dome with a cross on top. This building is very important, so it is a "Grade I listed building." This means it has the highest level of protection in the UK. Building the church cost £19,955. The Church Building Commission helped by giving £14,955 towards the cost.
Many important people have been connected to St Mary's. Charles John Gardiner, 1st Earl of Blessington, and Margaret Farmer were married here. Also, Samuel Augustus Barnett met his future wife, Henrietta, while working at the church in 1867–1868.
St Mary's Today
Many people call this church "St Mary's Church London." This is because it is one of the main Anglican churches named St Mary's in central London. It is known for being an active part of the evangelical wing of the Church of England.
The current group of people who attend the church started meeting here in 2002. They moved from another church called St Paul's Onslow Square. The Bishop of London gave them permission to use the building. The Revd John Peters leads the church today.
Leaders of St Mary's
The church has had many rectors (main priests) over the years. Here is a list of some of them:
- Thomas Frognall Dibdin (1824–1847)
- John Hampden Gurney (1847–1862)
- Charles Dallas Marston (1862–1866)
- The Hon. William Henry Freemantle (1866–1883)
- The Hon. James Wentworth Leigh (1883–1894)
- Henry Russell Wakefield (1894–1910)
- Launcelot Jefferson Percival (1910–1926)
- Albert Ernest Nicholass Simms (1926–1946)
- Arthur Donal Browne (1946–1962)
- Martin Gloster Sullivan (1962–1964)
- Victor Tucker Harvey (1964–1982)
- Iain MacGregor MacKenzie (1982–1989)
- David Evans (1990–1999)
- John Peters (2000–present)
Church Services
St Mary's holds two services every Sunday:
- An informal service at 11:00 AM, which includes special groups for children and teenagers.
- An informal service at 5:30 PM, which is for all ages but is especially popular with young adults.
Groups and Courses
The church also offers different groups and courses during the week. These are for many different kinds of people.
The Life Course
The Life Course is an eight-week program that runs three times a year. It helps people think about what gives life meaning. The course is a safe place to share ideas and talk about different views. You don't need to have any particular beliefs to join. People who are agnostic (not sure if God exists) or atheist (don't believe in God) are welcome, as are people of Christian faith or other faiths.
Participants meet for dinner in the church hall. After dinner, there's a short talk to start discussions in smaller groups. Some topics covered include:
- "What meaning do we give our lives?"
- "Where do people look for meaning?"
- "What shows that true meaning can be found?"
- "What difference does true meaning make?"
The course also has an optional weekend trip.
Helping New Churches Start
From 2004 to 2017, St Mary's helped start new churches. This is called "church planting." They also supported other churches that shared similar values. Some examples include:
- In 2004, Mike and Bex Norris, who worked at St Mary's, started new services at St Paul's Church, Auckland.
- In 2005, Jon and Jo Soper from St Mary's started Exeter Network Church.
- Laura and Antley Fowler, also from St Mary's, started River City Church in Jacksonville, Florida, in 2005.
- Pete and Bee Hughes, who used to work at St Mary's, started KXC (Kings Cross Church) in 2010.
Other Activities and Networks
St Mary's is part of the New Wine network of churches. They often attend and lead talks at New Wine's summer conferences. The current rector, John Peters, is also in charge of Prayer Ministry for New Wine. He leads training days across the country for people who want to learn how to pray for others.
The Centre: Supporting Families
Staff from St Mary's also created "The Centre." This organization helps families and works on relationships. The Centre offers different materials and courses to help people have better relationships and feel emotionally healthy.
- Circle of Security training: These weekly sessions help parents build stronger relationships with their children. They also teach useful parenting tips. Training courses are also offered for professionals like counselors.
- Seminars: They hold evening talks that give advice on different age groups, like babies, toddlers, and teenagers.
- Marriage preparation courses: These courses, in partnership with St Mary's, help couples who are engaged or have been together a long time. They offer tools and advice for a healthy relationship.
- Hold Me Tight courses: Also with St Mary's, these courses use ideas from Dr. Sue Johnson. They help married or long-term couples keep their relationships strong.
See also
