St Mary the Virgin, Hayes, Bromley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary the Virgin, Hayes, Bromley |
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| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Old Hayes |
| Diocese | Rochester |
St Mary the Virgin is an old church in South London. It was built a very long time ago, in the 12th century. The church has a special Gothic style. Later, in the Victorian era, it was updated. These updates were designed by famous architects, Sir George Gilbert Scott and his son John Oldrid Scott.
Today, St Mary's looks like a large hall. It has three main parts inside that are all about the same height.
Contents
Where is St Mary's Church?
This church is in a part of Bromley called 'Old Hayes'. Long ago, this was the original village area. In the 1860s, a railway line was built. This line came from Charing Cross and split the village in two. The church stayed in the older part of Hayes.
A Look Back in Time
St Mary's Church is more than 800 years old! It has changed a lot over the centuries. Big changes happened during the Victorian times.
Victorian Updates
- In 1856, a new section was added on the north side.
- The church tower was updated in 1861.
- In 1879, another section was added on the south side. This included a special area for the organ.
These updates were managed by George Gilbert Scott and his son John Oldrid Scott. They made sure the new parts matched the old style of the church. You can still see arches from the 1200s along the north and south walls.
During these updates, many old church furnishings were removed. But some older parts survived. These include wooden roof beams from the 1400s. A small, narrow window at the west end of the church also remains.
In 2005, a new meeting room was built at the back of the church. Many local groups and clubs use this room today.
Famous People Connected to St Mary's
St Mary's was the local church for two important British leaders. These were William Pitt the Elder and his son, William Pitt the Younger. Both of them became Prime Ministers of Britain.
William Pitt the Younger was even christened, or baptized, at this church. There is a special memorial inside the church to remember them. The British Parliament paid for this memorial.
The Pitt family lived across from the church. Their home was a large country house called Hayes Place. Later, Everard Hambro also lived there.
Another important person, Sir Vicary Gibbs, was also a member of this church. He was a judge. He is buried in the churchyard. Inside the church, there is a monument that tells about his life.
The churchyard is also the resting place of John Panis. He was brought to England as a slave and passed away in 1763.
