St Marylebone Parish Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Marylebone Parish Church |
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| Location | 19 Marylebone Road London NW1 5LT |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed |
| Architect(s) | Thomas Hardwick |
| Specifications | |
| Number of towers | 1 |
| Administration | |
| Archdeaconry | Charing Cross |
| Diocese | Diocese of London |
The St Marylebone Parish Church is an Anglican church in London. It is located on Marylebone Road. A famous architect named Thomas Hardwick designed the church. It was built between 1813 and 1817. This church is the third one built for the local area. The first church was further south, closer to Oxford Street. The area of Marylebone gets its name from this church. Right behind the church is St Marylebone School, which is a girls' school.
Contents
History of the Church Buildings
The St Marylebone Parish Church has a long history. It has been rebuilt and moved several times. Let's look at the different churches that served the area.
The First Church Building
The very first church for the area was built around the year 1200. It was near where Marble Arch is today. This church was named after Saint John the Evangelist.
The Second Church Building
In 1400, the Bishop of London allowed people to take down the first church. They built a new one in a better spot. This new church was dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It was closer to the village, at the north end of Marylebone High Street. By 1740, this church was old and falling apart. So, it was taken down.
Many important events happened in this second church. Francis Bacon got married here in 1606. The famous artist William Hogarth showed the inside of this church in his painting "A Rake's Progress" (1735). By 1722, the church was so popular that it needed a smaller helper church. This helper church is now St Peter, Vere Street.
The Third Church Building
A new, smaller church was built on the same spot. It opened in April 1742. This building was made of brick and had a small bell tower. Inside, there were galleries on three sides. Some old monuments from the previous church were kept here. In 1818, this church became a helper church when the current parish church was built. It was taken down in 1949. Today, its old location is a public garden at the north end of Marylebone High Street.
Many famous people were connected to this church. Charles Wesley, a leader of the Methodist movement, was buried in its churchyard. His son, Samuel, later became the organist of the current church. Lord Byron was baptized here in 1788. Admiral Horatio Nelson worshipped here, and his daughter Horatia was baptized here. The diplomat Sir William Hamilton married Emma Hart here. The architect James Gibbs was also buried here in 1751.
The Current Church Building
Original Design and Construction
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People first thought about building a new church in 1770. Plans were made by Sir William Chambers. The Dukes of Portland, who owned much of the land, supported the idea. However, the plan was stopped.
In 1810–11, a place was found to build a new helper church. It was on the south side of the new road, facing Regent's Park. Thomas Hardwick, a student of Sir William Chambers, drew up the plans. The first stone was laid on July 5, 1813. As the building was almost finished, it was decided that this new building would be the main parish church. So, some changes were made to the design.
On the front, facing the road, a grand entrance with eight columns was added. This was inspired by the Pantheon in Rome. A tall steeple was built instead of a dome. Inside, the design stayed mostly the same. The church is shaped like a rectangle. It has two levels of galleries supported by iron columns. The organ was placed above the altar. A special painting of an angel by Benjamin West was in the center of the organ case.
The steeple is about 120 feet (37 meters) tall from the ground. It has three parts. The bottom part is square and holds a clock. The middle part is round with columns. The top part looks like a tiny temple. It has a dome and a weather vane on top.
Underneath the church is a large crypt. This underground area was used for burials until 1853. In 1987, the coffins were moved to another cemetery. Now, the crypt is a healing and counseling center. The church was finished in 1817.
Many famous people have connections to this church. The writer Charles Dickens lived nearby. His son was baptized here. The poets Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett were married in this church in 1846. Their marriage certificate is still kept in the church.
The composer Sir John Stainer wrote a special piece of music called The Crucifixion for the church's choir. It was first performed here on February 24, 1887. It has been performed every year at the church since then, usually on Good Friday.
Later Changes to the Church
In 1826, the painting above the altar was taken down. The organ was made smaller. The private galleries were replaced with new ones for school students.
In 1882, the church underwent big changes. The architect Thomas Harris led the project. They removed the back wall and the upper galleries. This let in more light. They also added a special area for the choir and a sanctuary. A beautiful marble floor and pulpit were installed. This new design mixed old and new styles. The changes were finished in 1885.
After World War II
During the Second World War, a bomb fell near the church. It broke all the windows and damaged the ceiling. The church had to close for repairs until 1949. When it reopened, pieces of the original stained glass were put into the new windows. A special chapel was created to remember the Brownings' marriage. This chapel is now a parish room.
The old churchyard is now a peaceful public garden. It is cared for by the City of Westminster.
Rectors of St Marylebone
The church has a list of its ministers, called rectors, going back to 1544. Here are some of the rectors since 1821:
- 1821–1825 Luke Heslop
- 1825–1854 John Hume Spry
- 1855–1857 John Pelham (who later became a Bishop)
- 1857–1882 Charles Eyre
- 1882–1908 William Barker (who later became a Dean)
- 1908–1942 William Douglas Morrison
- 1942–1954 Hubert Matthews
- 1954–1958 James Harington Evans
- 1958–1978 Frank Coventry
- 1979–1990 Christopher Hamel Cooke
- 1990–1997 John Chater
- 1997–2010 Christopher Gower
- 2010– Stephen Evans
Church Organ
The church has a large organ made by Rieger Orgelbau. It has four keyboards. You can find more details about this organ on the National Pipe Organ Register.
Organists of the Church
Many talented musicians have been organists at St Marylebone.
- 1817–1834 – Samuel Wesley, son of Charles
- ????-???? – William Hodge
- ????-1913 – Frederick B. Kiddle
- 1965–1971 – Douglas Edward Hopkins
- 1971–1979 – Michael Howard
- 1979–1991 – Catherine Ennis
- 1991–2001 – Peter Barley
- 2001–2014 – Steven Grahl
- 2014–present – Gavin Roberts
Notable Burials
Many important people have been buried at St Marylebone Parish Church. Some members of the Bentinck family are buried in the church's crypt:
- William Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland (1738–1809), who was a Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
- Dorothy Cavendish-Bentinck, Duchess of Portland (1750–1794).
- Lieutenant-General Lord William Cavendish-Bentinck (1774–1839), who was a Governor-General of India.
Other notable people buried in the churchyard (which is now a public garden) include:
- Archibald Bower (1686–1766), a Scottish historian.
- Richard Cosway (1742–1821), a portrait painter.
- James Figg (died 1734), a famous boxer.
- John Shore (1751–1834), who was also a Governor General of India.
- The Reverend Charles Wesley (1707–1788), known for writing over 6,000 hymns. His wife, Sarah, is also buried here.
- Joseph Woelfl (1773–1812), a composer and pianist.
Art Exhibitions
Since 2013, the church has hosted art exhibitions in its crypt. These shows feature living British painters. They work with a group called Contemporary British Painting. Some artists who have shown their work here include Matthew Krishanu, Mary Webb, Susan Gunn, Nicholas Middleton, Simon Burton, Judith Tucker, Susie Hamilton, and Robert Priseman.
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia parroquial de St. Marylebone para niños
