St Michael's, Fulwell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Michael's Fulwell |
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| Church of St Michael and St George | |
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| Location | Fulwell, Teddington, London |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England Anglican |
| Website | https://www.stmichaelsfulwell.co.uk/ |
| History | |
| Founded | 1913; reopened 2014 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II Listed |
| Architect(s) | J S Adkins |
| Closed | 2000–14 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St Michael & St George Fulwell; formerly St Peter & St Paul Teddington with St Michael & St George Fulwell |
| Deanery | Hampton |
| Archdeaconry | Middlesex |
| Episcopal area | Kensington |
| Diocese | Diocese of London |
| Province | Canterbury |
St Michael's Fulwell is a special church in Fulwell, a part of Teddington in London. It's a Church of England church, meaning it's part of the main Christian church in England. This building is so important that it's listed as a Grade II listed building. This means it's protected because of its history and architecture. The church was first built in 1913. It was closed for a while, from 2000 to 2014, but it opened its doors again in 2015 with a new group of people.
Contents
The Story of St Michael's Church
The Church of St Michael and St George Fulwell first opened its doors in 1913. It was designed by an architect named J S Adkins. He worked on many church buildings, but St Michael's is special because it was entirely his own design.
What Does the Church Look Like?
The church's style mixes a few different looks. It has elements of Gothic Revival, which brings back old medieval church styles. It also uses Perpendicular style, known for its tall, thin lines. Plus, you can see influences from the Arts and Crafts movement, which focused on traditional skills and simple designs.
Changes Over Time
In the 1980s, some changes were made inside the church. The back part of the main area, called the nave, was separated. This created a balcony upstairs and a meeting room. Downstairs, a kitchen, an entrance area (narthex), and storage spaces were added.
In March 1990, St Michael's church joined with another church, St Peter & St Paul Teddington. They became one larger church area, called a benefice.
Why Did the Church Close?
In November 2000, St Michael's church closed down. Most of the things inside, like furniture and decorations, were taken out. The house where the vicar lived was sold. The building was empty and started to get old and damaged for 15 years. No one was sure what would happen to it.
Reopening the Church
St Michael's church reopened in 2015 thanks to a team from St Peter's Fulham. Other people from Teddington, Twickenham, and Hampton also joined in. The Bishop of Kensington, Paul Williams, asked a vicar named Ed Kendall to start a new group of churchgoers there. Many local churches helped support this new beginning.
New Beginnings and Growth
The church started its Sunday morning services in January 2015. Their goal was to "rebuild a gospel-centred community for Fulwell, Teddington and beyond." Soon after, they added an evening service too.
At first, the church used the side-chapel and some smaller rooms for most of their services. But by 2016, the morning group had grown too big for these small spaces. So, they put up a temporary indoor tent, like a marquee, in the main part of the church during winter. This helped keep the space warm for everyone.
The "Regenerate" Project
In 2017, a big project called "Regenerate" began. The aim was to fix up and improve the rest of the church building. For four years, people worked hard to raise money and plan the designs for the refurbishment.
In 2019, the Parish of St Michael & St George Fulwell became its own separate church area again. It was no longer joined with St Peter & St Paul Teddington.
The main building work for the "Regenerate" project happened from August 2021 to July 2022. During this time, the church group met at St Peter & St Paul Teddington. A special service was held on October 13, 2022, to celebrate the work being finished. Bishop Ric Thorpe led prayers to rededicate the church.
Church Services Today
St Michael's church holds services on Sundays. There are family services at 10:30 am and 4 pm. There is also a more relaxed evening service at 6:30 pm.
