St Mary of Eton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Mary of Eton |
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| St Mary of Eton with St Augustine. | |
St. Mary of Eton, Hackney Wick
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 St. Mary of Eton
Location in London Borough of Hackney
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| 51°32′43″N 0°01′50″W / 51.54528°N 0.03056°W | |
| OS grid reference | TQ3654984822 |
| Location | Eastway, London E9 5JA |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Anglo-Catholic |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* listed |
| Architect(s) | George Frederick Bodley and Thomas Garner |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Years built | 1890-92 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St. Mary of Eton with St. Augustine, Hackney Wick |
| Diocese | London |
St. Mary of Eton is a special church in Hackney Wick, London. It's an Anglican church, which means it's part of the Church of England. This building is so important that it's a Grade II* listed building, meaning it's protected because of its history and design. It was built between 1890 and 1892. The church was designed in a style called Gothic Revival, which looks like old medieval churches. It was built to help the "Eton Mission," a project started by Eton College to support people in East London.
History of the Church
In the late 1800s, Eton College started a special project. They wanted to help people living in the busy area of Hackney Wick in East London. They also wanted their students to learn about different ways of life. This project was called the "Eton Mission" and it began in 1880.
St. Mary of Eton Church was built between 1890 and 1892. It became the main building for this important mission.
During World War II, a nearby church called St. Augustine's was damaged by bombs. In 1953, the people who went to St. Augustine's joined St. Mary's. This is why the church is now known as St. Mary of Eton with St. Augustine.
St. Mary of Eton is also famous for something else. It's where the 59 Club started. This club is a well-known youth club for young people in the Church of England.
Church Architecture and Design
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St. Mary of Eton was built by two famous Victorian architects. Their names were George Frederick Bodley and Thomas Garner. The church is made of red bricks with special stone decorations.
The front of the church faces the main street. A gate leads into a courtyard surrounded by the old Eton Mission buildings. Eton House was built in 1898 for the church leaders to live in. Later, in 1911 and 1912, two more sections were added to the church by Cecil Greenwood Hare. The tall tower was also added in 1912.
Inside the church, you'll notice the very tall and open main area, called the nave. A painted screen, known as a rood screen, divides this space. It was also designed by Bodley. At the front of the church, the main altar has a beautifully decorated screen behind it. This screen was designed in 1930 by W. Ellery Anderson.
In 1944, during World War II, a bomb hit the Eton Mission buildings. The church was badly damaged. After the war, some changes were made inside the church in 1958. A new organ was put in during 1960.
In 2013 and 2014, the church had a big repair and update project. The inside of the church was rearranged and made new again. Some of the old Eton Mission buildings around the courtyard were turned into homes. Other buildings were taken down. New apartment buildings were built next to the church. They have a special brick pattern that matches the original church design. This project won a RIBA National Award in 2015 for its thoughtful design.
See also
- Grade I and II* listed buildings in the London Borough of Hackney
