St Mary-at-Finchley Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary-at-Finchley |
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St Mary-at-Finchley
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| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Style | English Gothic |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Finchley |
| Deanery | Barnet |
| Archdeaconry | Hampstead |
| Episcopal area | Edmonton |
| Diocese | London |
| Province | Canterbury |
St Mary-at-Finchley Church is a special Church of England church. It serves the area of Finchley in London. You can find it in the town centre on Hendon Lane, close to the Finchley Library.
Contents
A Look at the Church's History
How Old is St Mary's Church?
This church has been around for a very long time! It was first built sometime in the 1100s. People found records of a church here from the year 1274. There's even proof that a building stood here before that.
By 1356, the church was named after St Mary. The building has changed a lot over the years. The oldest parts we see today, like the north wall and the tower, are from the time of King Henry VII. This was in the late 1400s and early 1500s. The tower might have even had a tall spire in the 1500s and 1600s.
Ancient Features Inside the Church
Inside the church, you can find some very old items. There's an ambry (a small cupboard for sacred items) in the north wall. There's also a font bowl (used for baptisms). This bowl was found in the rectory grounds in the 1800s. It had been buried there during the English Civil War to keep it safe. Both of these items are from the Norman period, which means they are incredibly old!
Changes Over the Years
The church became bigger in 1872. A company called Henry Willis & Sons installed the church's current organ in 1878.
During World War II, in 1940, London was bombed. This time was known as the London Blitz. St Mary's Church was badly damaged. Because of the bombing, much of the church had to be rebuilt in 1953. The eastern part was almost completely destroyed. The beautiful stained glass windows also had to be replaced.
New parts were added, like a new altar (the table used for services) and a pulpit (where sermons are given). The organ was also moved to a different part of the church. It was fully repaired in 2011.
A Protected Building
St Mary-at-Finchley Church is a very important building. Since 1949, it has been a Grade II* listed building. This means it's a historic place that needs to be protected.
In the year 2000, a special wall hanging was made. It celebrates the new millennium. This hanging shows all the different groups who were part of the church's life at the end of the 1900s. There's a guide next to it to help you understand all the symbols.
Monuments and Burials
Who is Remembered Here?
The church has many old monuments. The oldest one is a brass plate for Richard Prate, who died in 1487. There's also a marble statue of Alexander King and his wife from 1618. Another brass plate, from 1509, shows part of Thomas Sanny's will. You can also see monuments for the Allen family. They used to own Finchley's Manor House.
Graves in the Churchyard
The churchyard is where people are buried. You can find the graves of some famous people here. One is Thomas Payne, who was a writer and bookseller. He was known for his strong ideas. Another grave belongs to Major John Cartwright. He was a political reformer who worked to make society fairer.
See also
Images for kids
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Inside St Mary-at-Finchley Church
