St Mary Magdalene Church, Holloway Road facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St. Mary Magdalene Church, Holloway Road
Hope Church Islington
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Location	Holloway Road, Islington, N7 8LT, London
Country	England
Denomination	Church of England
Churchmanship	Low Church
Website	[1]
Architecture
Architect(s)	William Wickings
Years built	1814
Administration
Parish	St Mary Magdalene & St David
Diocese	London (Stepney Area)
Division	Islington Deanery

St Mary Magdalene Church, also known as Hope Church Islington, is a special church building in north London. It is an Anglican church, meaning it belongs to the Church of England. The church is dedicated to Mary Magdalene, a close friend of Jesus.

You can find it on Holloway Road, right across from the Islington Central Library. The church is surrounded by the peaceful St Mary Magdalene Gardens. Since 2013, St Mary Magdalene Church has worked closely with another church, St David's, sharing leaders and a team.

The church building was built a long time ago, in the early 1800s. Today, it is used for many activities. These include church services, a winter night shelter for people in need, and a toddlers' group called 'Mini Mags'. Many important life events like baptisms, weddings, and funerals also happen here. The church building and its iron railings are very old and important, so they are protected as Grade II* listed structures.

What Happens at Church?

The church community at St Mary Magdalene is part of the evangelical stream of the Church of England. This means they focus on the Bible and sharing their faith. More recently, they have adopted a lively and informal style of worship, except for the 9 AM service, which is more traditional.

Hope Church Islington has grown and now meets in three different places. These include St Mary Magdalene on Holloway Road and St David's on Westbourne Road. They also have a small community that meets at a coffee shop. There is even a special service on Tuesday mornings for toddlers and their parents.

Church History and Design

Building the Church

St Mary Magdalene Church was built in 1814. It was designed by an architect named William Wickings. Originally, it was a smaller chapel connected to St Mary's Church, Islington. In 1894, it became its own parish church.

The building looks like a typical Georgian-style church. It is made of brick and has six sections with three rows of small windows. The lowest windows are for the crypt, which is an underground room.

The Bell Tower

At the south side of the church, there is a square bell tower. This tower holds eight bells. These bells were made in 1875 by a company called John Warner and Son. They are special because they have never been changed or re-tuned.

Inside the Church

Inside, the church has galleries on three sides. These are like balconies supported by strong columns. In the past, these galleries were shaped like a horseshoe. They were changed to a rectangular shape in 1894-95.

However, in 1983, many of these changes were undone. The choir stalls and pews (church benches) were removed. New meeting rooms were built under the galleries.

The Gardens

The church gardens used to be the church's old burial ground. In the late 1800s, these gardens were opened to the public. Today, many people enjoy using them as a peaceful park.

Music at the Church

Music is an important part of the services at St Mary Magdalene. At the 11 AM service, the music is modern and led by singers and a band. The 9 AM service features well-known hymns, with music led from the piano.

Sometimes, the church also hosts concerts during lunchtime or in the evening. You can find out about these events on the church's website.

The church is home to a large organ. It has three keyboards and was built by George Pike England. Famous London companies later made small changes to it. A well-known organist named Henry Willis played the organ here for almost thirty years. However, as of 2009, the organ is not fully working.

Sunday Services

Hope Church at St Mary Magdalene holds two services every Sunday. There is a 9 AM service of Holy Communion, which is a traditional Christian ceremony. There is also a more modern and informal service at 11 AM.

Hope Church at St David's, the sister church, has a 10:30 AM service with groups for children. They also have a 5 PM service with extended worship. The church also organizes regular prayer meetings and Bible study groups. They also run Alpha courses, which are a series of sessions exploring the Christian faith.

More Activities

The church offers many activities and groups for the community:

• A Little Hope – This is a support group for parents. It meets on Mondays during school terms from 10 AM to 11:30 AM.
• Bellringers – A group of people who regularly ring the church bells. They practice on Wednesdays from 7 PM to 9 PM and ring the bells on Sundays from 10 AM to 11 AM.

St Mary Magdalene Church also has a close connection with the St Mary Magdalene Academy, a school located on Liverpool Road.

Hope Church Islington is part of the Islington Deanery, which is a local group of churches. This deanery is part of the Diocese of London.

Images for kids

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  St Mary Magdalene Church