St Mary's Church, Addington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary's Church |
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| Church of St Mary the Blessed Virgin | |
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Southeast view of the Church of Saint Mary, Addington
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| 51°21′30″N 0°01′56″W / 51.358453°N 0.032254°W | |
| Location | Addington, London Borough of Croydon, Greater London |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Modern Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Dedication | St Mary the Blessed Virgin |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed |
| Designated | 29 January 1951 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Parish of Addington |
| Deanery | Croydon Addington |
| Archdeaconry | Archdeaconry of Croydon |
| Episcopal area | Croydon Episcopal Area |
| Diocese | Diocese of Southwark |
The Church of St Mary the Blessed Virgin is an old and important Anglican church. It is located in Addington, which is part of the Borough of Croydon in London. This church is especially famous because of its connection to the Archbishops of Canterbury from the 1800s. Five of these archbishops, who lived nearby at Addington Palace, are buried here.
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History of St Mary's Church
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There has been a church on this spot since at least 1080 AD. It was once the only church in Addington village. At that time, it was the center of a much larger parish. This parish also included the area now known as Shirley.
The church has an 11th-century chancel, which is the area around the altar. It also has very old windows from that time. The south aisle, a narrow part of the church, was built in the early 13th century. It was narrow because it used to have a thatched roof. This is why its roofline slopes downwards.
The belltower of the church got its current shape in 1876. The tower has a belfry with six bells. The oldest bell likely dates back to 1380. There are also two bells from the 17th century. All the bells were repaired and improved in 1957. In 1898, the chancel was beautifully decorated. This was done to remember Archbishop Edward White Benson.
On January 29, 1951, St Mary's Church was given a special status. It became a Grade I listed building. This means it is a building of exceptional historical and architectural interest. The church was part of the Diocese of Canterbury until 1984. After that, it joined the Diocese of Southwark.
Important Burials at the Church
The crypt, an underground room, is now closed off. However, the church is the burial place for several important people. These include a Lord Mayor of the City of London. Members of the Leigh family, who were lords of the manor, are also buried here. Most notably, five of the six Archbishops of Canterbury who lived at Addington Palace are buried at St Mary's.
The archbishops buried at St Mary's are:
- Archbishop Charles Manners-Sutton – he passed away in 1828. He is buried in a vault under the vestry.
- Archbishop William Howley – he passed away in 1848. He is buried in the chancel.
- Archbishop John Bird Sumner – he passed away in 1862. He is buried in the churchyard.
- Archbishop Charles Longley – he passed away in 1868. He is buried in the churchyard.
- Archbishop Archibald Campbell Tait – he passed away in 1882. He is buried in the churchyard.
There is also a special memorial in the churchyard for these archbishops. The churchyard also contains graves for thirteen service members. These are Commonwealth war graves. Four are from World War I and nine are from World War II.
Home Guard Memorial Window
There is a beautiful stained glass window in the church. It serves as a memorial to the 59th (Addington) Battalion of the Home Guard. This group played an important role during the Second World War.
- Above the main double window, there is a small round window. It shows the Paschal Lamb symbol. This is the emblem of the Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey). Their motto, "Pristinae Virtutis Memor," is also shown. This means "Mindful of Ancient Virtue."
- At the top of the double windows, a Bible verse is written. It says, "Everyone had his sword by his side and so builded. Neh. 4 v 18." This verse talks about building while being ready to defend.
- At the bottom of the windows, there is a dedication. It reads: "To the Glory of God and as a memorial of their service to King and Country by members of the 59th Surrey (Addington) Battalion Home Guard, this window is erected. 1952."
St Mary's Church Today
Today, the church serves the people living in the areas nearby. This includes Addington village itself. It also covers the southern part of Addington Hills. The church serves residents along Fieldway, which is part of the New Addington estate. People from Addington and Forestdale also attend.
The church follows the Modern Catholic tradition. This is a specific style of worship within the Church of England.
Notable Clergy Who Served Here
Some important church leaders once worked at St Mary's Church.
- John Cavell was a curate here from 1947 to 1949. He later became the Bishop of Southampton.
- Michael Perham was also a curate here from 1976 to 1981. He later became the Bishop of Gloucester.
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