St Mary the Virgin, Wanstead facts for kids
St Mary the Virgin, Wanstead is a beautiful Church of England church located in Wanstead, which is in east London. You can find it on Overton Drive. This church now shares its local area, called a parish, with another church nearby, Christ Church, Wanstead. St Mary the Virgin is very special because it is the only building in the entire London Borough of Redbridge that has a Grade I listed building status. This means it's considered one of the most important historical buildings in England!
Contents
A Look Back: The Church's History
The story of the church in this area goes all the way back to 1208. That's when the parish was first officially mentioned! The original church from medieval times was replaced by the building you see today. This new church was built between 1787 and 1790. It was placed about 70 feet north of the old one.
Building the New Church
The land for the new church was kindly given by James Tylney-Long from his large estate. The design for this impressive building was created by a famous architect named Thomas Hardwick.
The first stone of the new church was laid on July 13, 1787. This was a big event, followed by a party at Wanstead House. The construction finished on June 24, 1790. A special ceremony, called a consecration, was held to officially open and bless the church. This ceremony was led by Beilby Porteus, who was the bishop of London at the time.
After the new church was ready, the old medieval church was carefully taken down. However, a very large and important monument dedicated to Josiah Child was moved from the old church into the new one. This way, a piece of the past lives on in the new building.
Important People Connected to the Church
The churchyard of St Mary the Virgin is the final resting place for some notable people. One of them is Joseph Wilton, who was a talented sculptor. Another important person buried here is Robert Plampin. He was a Vice-Admiral in the Royal Navy, which means he was a high-ranking officer in the British navy.
External Links
- Official parish website: http://www.wansteadparish.org/
