St Mary Magdalene, Enfield facts for kids
St Mary Magdalene, Enfield is a special church in Enfield, London. It's part of the Church of England, which is the main Christian church in England. The church is named after Mary Magdalene, who was a friend of Jesus. This building is very old and important, so it's protected as a grade II* listed building by Historic England. This means it's a really special place with a lot of history!
Building a Special Church
This beautiful church was built to remember a man named Philip Twells. He was a Member of Parliament (MP), which means he helped make laws for the country, and he was also a banker. His wife, Georgiana Twells, wanted to create a lasting memorial for him.
She hired a famous architect named William Butterfield to design the church. The first stone was placed in 1881, and the church was officially opened in 1883.
Amazing Art Inside
The inside of the church is filled with incredible art. An artist named Charles Edgar Buckeridge painted the ceiling and the main wall at the front of the church, called the sanctuary. Sadly, he passed away young. After him, another artist, Nathaniel Westlake, painted the side walls.
In 2012, these amazing paintings were carefully cleaned and fixed up by a group called Hirst Conservation. This important work was made possible with help from people in the local area and money from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The beautiful stained-glass windows in the church were made by a company called Heaton, Butler and Bayne.
The Church Bells
When the church was first built in 1883, its tower had 8 large bells. These bells were made by a company called John Warner & Sons and were used for "change ringing." This is a special way of ringing bells in a pattern to create music.
However, over time, these bells turned out to be too heavy for the church tower and were starting to cause damage. So, in 1999, the church got new, lighter bells. These new bells were also a set of 8 and were made by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry.
The older, heavier bells found a new home! They were bought by Grace Church Cathedral in Charleston, United States. There, they were installed and even more bells were added, making a total of 10. The two new bells were also made by Whitechapel Bell Foundry in the same year.
Gallery
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The Sanctuary
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The ceiling
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The ceiling
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North wall
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South wall
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The Angel Gabriel, East wall
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The Magi, East wall
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Christian received into Heaven
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West window
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East window
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Holy Family
