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History of the united parishes of Saint Peter Westcheap, Saint Matthew le Querne, Saint Matthew Friday Street, and Saint Vedast Foster Lane:

The church of Saint Peter Westcheap stood on the south west corner of Wood Street, on the north side of Cheapside. Built in the 12th century, it was rebuilt out of proceeds of the estate of John Sha in 1503. It was repaired in 1616-17, before being destroyed in the Great Fire. It was not rebuilt. The parish was united with Saint Matthew Friday Street in 1670.

The church of Saint Matthew Friday Street was repaired in 1632-3, and burnt in the Great Fire. It was rebuilt and enlarged by Wren, 1681-7. After restoration in 1861-2, it was taken down in 1881 and the parish united to Saint Vedast Foster Lane.

The church of Saint Michael le Querne stood at the western end of the City's great market. A corn market was sometimes held in the churchyard (which gave the parish its name). The church was repaired in 1617, burnt in 1666 and not rebuilt. The parish was subsequently united to Saint Vedast Foster Lane.

The church of Saint Vedast Foster Lane stood on the east side of Foster Lane. It was dedicated to the bishop and patron saint of Arras. The church was rebuilt in 1519, repaired and enlarged in 1614, and destroyed in the Great Fire. It was rebuilt in 1670-3. A steeple was added in 1697-8. It was restored after bomb damage in 1941 and fitted out with furniture from other churches.

The church of Saint Stephen Coleman Street was on the west side of Coleman Street near the junction with Gresham Street. In the medieval period it was also known as Saint Stephen Jewry. The advowson was held by the Prior of Butley from the canons of Saint Paul's. During the Civil War it was a low church stronghold. Destroyed in the Great Fire, the church was rebuilt by Wren in 1674-6, but destroyed again by bombing in 1940. The ruins were demolished and the site redeveloped. The parish was united to Saint Margaret Lothbury in 1954.

Other parishes united to Saint Margaret Lothbury: Saint Martin Pomeroy, Saint Bartholomew by the Exchange, Saint Mildred Poultry, Saint Mary Colechurch, Saint Olave Jewry and Saint Christopher le Stocks.

The church of Saint Stephen Walbrook was founded on the west bank of the Walbrook (a stream flowing from Finsbury through the City and into the Thames) sometime before 1096, and rebuilt on the east bank in 1429-39. The church was burned down in the Great Fire of London in 1666, but rebuilt by Christopher Wren in 1672-79. It was badly damaged through bombing in 1940.

The church of Saint Benet Sherehog was built sometime before 1111 in the centre of the wool district, a shere hog being the name for a castrated ram. The church was destroyed in the Great Fire and not rebuilt. As a result of this, in 1670 the Parish of Saint Stephen Walbrook was united with Saint Benet Sherehog.

Information from The London Encyclopaedia, eds. Weinreb and Hibbert (LMA Library Reference 67.2 WEI).

Saint Swithin London Stone was situated on Cannon Street. It was an medieval church, rebuilt by Wren in 1677-1685 in an unusual cube shape covered by an octagonal dome. It was destroyed during the Second World War. The parish had been united to Saint Mary Bothaw (P69/MRY6) in 1670 after the latter was destroyed by the Great Fire in 1666.

History of the united parishes of Saint Mary Aldermary, Saint Thomas Apostle, Saint Antholin Budge Row and Saint John the Baptist Walbrook:

The church of Saint Thomas the Apostle was situated in Queen Street. It is first mentioned in records in 1170, and was rebuilt in 1371. The building was destroyed during the Great Fire of London in 1666 and was not rebuilt. The parish was united with Saint Mary Aldermanbury (P69/MRY2) in 1670. The burial ground was partially cleared in 1851 for the widening of Queen Street.

The parish of Saint Mary Aldermary is 11th century in origin. The parish church was rebuilt after the Great Fire of 1666 and, in 1670, the parish was united with Saint Thomas Apostle. The parish church of Saint Antholin Budge Row was also rebuilt after the Great Fire and, in 1670, the parish was united with Saint John the Baptist Walbrook. Finally, the four parishes were united with each other in 1873 and the church of Saint Antholin was demolished the following year.

Information from The London Encyclopaedia, eds. Weinreb and Hibbert (LMA Library Reference 67.2 WEI).

All Saints, Battersea was designed in 1882-1883 by F. W. Hunt. The building was replaced by another in 1976-1978, designed by David Gill.

Saint Andrew's Church was built in 1886, and stood between Stockdale and Dashwood Roads. It was built of brick with stone dressings in a 13th century style. The church was destroyed by bombing during the Second World War. Services were conducted in a temporary church until the benefice was united with that of Saint George the Martyr, Battersea, in 1954; forming St George with St Andrew, Battersea.

The church of Saint George the Martyr was originally situated in Battersea Park Road. A new church, in Patmore Street, was opened in 1955.

St Matthew's mission church was built in 1926 in Coppett's Road in the parish of St James, Muswell Hill. This later became the small church hall. A larger church hall was built in 1933-4 to serve as a temporary church. St Matthew's was assigned a conventional district in 1934, and, on 11 December 1939, this became a parish. The permanent church was consecrated on 6 July 1940. The church was closed in 1978. On 1 August 1979 the parish was united with St James, Muswell Hill.

Northolt church formed part of the endowment of the priory of Walden in Essex founded by Geoffrey de Mandeville about 1140. Walden exercised its rights until some time between 1241 and 1251 when the prior's claims were disputed by the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul's Cathedral. It was agreed that a vicarage should be instituted and patronage vested in the Bishop of London and his successors. In 1864 patronage was transferred to Brasenose College, Oxford, which still holds the advowson. The church of Saint Mary dates in part from the early 14th century with early-16th-century additions. A south vestry was added in 1945. Rapid increases in population during the 1930s and extensive council development after 1945 led to the formation of three daughter churches between 1940 and 1960: the churches of Saint Joseph, Saint Hugh and Saint Richard.

From: 'Northolt: Churches', A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 4: Harmondsworth, Hayes, Norwood with Southall, Hillingdon with Uxbridge, Ickenham, Northolt, Perivale, Ruislip, Edgware, Harrow with Pinner (1971), pp. 119-121. Available online.

A church dedicated to St Mary is known to have been in existence by 1231 when Walter, Rector of Acton is recorded as holding property from Peter Fitz Alulf. The original building, excluding the tower, was demolished in 1865 because it could seat only 500 and was considered unworthy in style. It was replaced by a red brick church with stone dressings designed by H. Francis,and in 1876 the tower was also rebuilt. In 1906 the vestry was extended over part of the churchyard. The rapid increase in population after 1860 not only led to the rebuilding of St Mary's church but also to the creation of separate parishes for South Acton, 1873, East Acton, 1880 and Acton Green,1888, followed by the formation of the districts of West Acton, 1907, Acton Vale, 1915 and North Acton, 1930. In addition, a mission church, dedicated to St. Andrew, was set up in Salisbury Street.

Source of information: 'Acton: Churches', A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 7: Acton, Chiswick, Ealing and Brentford, West Twyford, Willesden (1982), pp. 35-39. Available online.

The Church of Saint Matthew, Ponders End was built in 1877-78 as a chapel of ease to Saint James, Enfield Highway, because Saint James' Church was unable to serve the needs of the expanding population of eastern Enfield. In 1899 Saint Matthew's became a parish church in its own right. Plans for enlarging the church were drawn up, but in the event only the chancel was built.

Holy Trinity Church was consecrated on 26 May 1830 as Holy Trinity Chapel. It was assigned a district chapelry from the parish of All Hallows, Tottenham in December 1844. Two new parishes were in turn created from Holy Trinity, Saint Ann, Hanger Lane, in 1861 and Saint Peter, Page Green in 1900. The parishes of Saint Mary the Virgin, Tottenham and Christ Church, West Green were formed partly from Holy Trinity in 1888-9. Saint Peter's Church was declared redundant in 1973 and the parish was reunited with Holy Trinity. In 1980 part of the parish of Saint Bartholomew, Stamford Hill was transferred to Holy Trinity, including Saint John's Worship Centre, Vartry Road, which had replaced the redundant parish church of Saint John, Vartry Road in 1975.

The mission church of Saint Peter, in the charge of Saint Michael-at-Bowes, was established in 1883. It became the church of Saint Gabriel in 1906 when a consolidated chapelry was formed out of Saint Michael's Wood Green, Saint Michael-at-Bowes, and Saint Paul's New Southgate.

The church of Saint Mark has its origins in a mission started in a school on Schoolhouse Lane in 1875, which opened a church in 1880 on Fairfax Road, Teddington. This church was replaced in 1939, following the creation of a separate parish for Saint Mark's in 1938.

From: 'Teddington: Churches', A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 3: Shepperton, Staines, Stanwell, Sunbury, Teddington, Heston and Isleworth, Twickenham, Cowley, Cranford, West Drayton, Greenford, Hanwell, Harefield and Harlington (1962), pp. 76-79. Available online.

Mission work was carried out in rented halls in Edmonton until a church was built in 1850 on Fore Street. A parish was assigned to this church in 1851. It was first dedicated to Saint Pancras but this was later changed to Saint James. The church carried out active mission work, opening several mission halls in the area.

From: 'Edmonton: Churches' and 'Edmonton: Education', A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 5: Hendon, Kingsbury, Great Stanmore, Little Stanmore, Edmonton Enfield, Monken Hadley, South Mimms, Tottenham (1976), pp. 181-187 (available online).

The parish of Christ Church, Turnham Green, was created in 1845 from the parish of Chiswick. The patron was the Bishop of London. The church was built on former common land in 1843, with extensions added in 1887. A mission was established based in the National School on High Road.

From: 'Chiswick: Churches', A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 7: Acton, Chiswick, Ealing and Brentford, West Twyford, Willesden (1982), pp. 90-93. Available online.

The church of Saint Nicholas at Shepperton is first mentioned in documents in 1157, when it was held by Westminster Abbey. In 1251 the advowson was transferred to the lord of the manor, who held it until around 1750. After this date the rectors seem to have presented themselves. In 1942 the advowson was transferred to the Bishop of London. The same church served the whole parish until 1949 when part of the parish was transferred to Littleton. The church was constructed in 1614, replacing an earlier building which had fallen into ruin.

Source of information: A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 3: Shepperton, Staines, Stanwell, Sunbury, Teddington, Heston and Isleworth, Twickenham, Cowley, Cranford, West Drayton, Greenford, Hanwell, Harefield and Harlington (1962), pp. 1-12.

The parish of All Souls, Harlesden, was formed in 1875 from Willesden, Acton, St John's, Kensal Green, and Hammersmith. Mission services had been held by the curate of St Mary's, Willesden, at Harlesden institute from 1858. The parish church at Station Road, Harlesden, was built and consecrated in 1879. It replaced an iron church dating from 1867.

St Luke's mission church, on Old Oak Lane, Acton, was founded between 1894 and 1898 by All Souls. It appears not to have become a separate parish.

The church of Holy Trinity on Brondesbury Road was founded in 1867 by the minister of Saint Paul's, Kilburn. A district was assigned to it in the same year, taken from the parish of Saint Mary's. The building was brick with stone facings, seating 1,100. The church was destroyed by fire in 1950 and the ruins demolished in 1970.

Source of information: A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 7: Acton, Chiswick, Ealing and Brentford, West Twyford, Willesden (1982), pp. 236-241.

The Church of the Ascension, Hanger Hill was consecrated in July 1939, replacing an iron church which had been in use from circa 1937. A conventional district, served by the London Diocesan Home Mission, existed until the formation of the parish in 1948. In 1988 the parish was united with Saint Mary, West Twyford.

The parish of Little Stanmore dates back before 1200. The church of St Lawrence, otherwise known as St Lawrence Whitchurch, was first recorded as having been appropriated by St Bartholomew's Priory. The church was acquired by the Lake family of Little Stanmore in 1552. They built up the fortunes of the parish as trustees, setting up a charitable foundation in 1680 and building almshouses and a free school. By the eighteenth century the church had been inherited by the Duke of Chandos who appointed John James to rebuild it between 1714-1720. It is said that Handel played the church organ at the height of his career, while staying with the Duke nearby. Notable ministers of the church include John Theophilus Desaguliers, a Huguenot refugee who preferred natural philosophy to his church duties; he invented the planetarium. The population of the parish grew considerably during the 1920's and 30s with the coming of the underground railway to Stanmore. A separate parish (All Saints, Queensbury) was constituted from the southern part of Little Stanmore in 1932, following boundary changes.

Source: 'Little Stanmore: Church', A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 5: Hendon, Kingsbury, Great Stanmore, Little Stanmore, Edmonton Enfield, Monken Hadley, South Mimms, Tottenham (1976), pp. 122-124 (available online).

The earliest reference to a church in Hillingdon is the grant by Brian Fitz Count, Lord of Colham Manor, of Hillingdon Church to Evesham Abbey, Worcestershire shortly after 1100. Nothing remains of that building. The present church is built mainly of flint rubble with stone dressings. The oldest part of the building is the re-set chancel arch which has ""stiff-leaf"" foliage capitals of the thirteenth century. The church was thoroughly restored by George Gilbert Scott in 1847/8 when the nave was lengthened, the transepts were added and the present east end, including the chancel with flanking chapels, was built. The building was restored in 1902 and again in 1953-5, and a new north-east vestry was added in 1964. By 1819 the churchyard had become full and it was enlarged by incorporating part of Coney Green on the south side. It again became full and in 1867 it was closed to burials in new graves, although burials continued of family members in existing graves. The last such burial was in 1948.

When using the earliest registers it may be helpful to be aware of certain aspects of the law relating to parish record keeping during the period of the Civil War and the Commonwealth 1642-1660. On 6 December 1644 (taking effect 4 January 1645) an ordinance required that each parish should record the dates of baptisms, plus the dates of birth and the parents names. Each burial entry was to record also the date of death. Few parishes observed these directions. An Act of Parliament of 24 August 1653 (taking effect 29 September 1653) which legalised civil marriage took away from ministers custody of the registers and the solemnisation of the marriage ceremony. This latter duty was passed to the Justices. The registers were to be kept by a new secular official, the 'Parish Register', elected by all the rate payers in a parish, and sworn before, and approved by, a magistrate. At St John, Hillingdon, the appointment of the Register (Robert Newington, the parish clerk) is recorded in DRO/110/002 on 19 September 1653. All registration functions were entrusted to these officials. A common feature of parish registers at this time (and which occurs in those of St John, Hillingdon) is the entry of dates of birth and publication of marriage, as well as, or instead of, those of baptism and marriage. The marriage ordinance was confirmed in 1657 but the declaration that marriages, other than those conducted by the Justices, were illegal was omitted. In many places, from then until the end of the Commonwealth, marriages were celebrated by magistrate and Register jointly. The effects of this upheaval can be seen in the haphazard nature of the entries from this period in DRO/110/001. Later entries are usually duplicated in DRO/110/002, sometimes with slightly altered spellings.

The church of Saint George was constructed in 1906, financed by the sale of the site of Saint George, Botolph Lane, City of London. The church includes a pulpit and organ case from the City of London church. Alterations to the building were carried out in 1956.

From: A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 4: Harmondsworth, Hayes, Norwood with Southall, Hillingdon with Uxbridge, Ickenham, Northolt, Perivale, Ruislip, Edgware, Harrow with Pinner (1971), pp. 50-52.

Saint Michael and All Angels began as a series of mission meetings in rented rooms in 1876. In 1879 the meetings moved to Melville Road and in 1885 the London Diocesan Home Mission instituted a new mission. The separate parish was formed in 1892 from the parishes of Saint Mary, Willesden and All Souls, Harlesden. The church, a red brick building in late thirteenth century style, was built in 1891 by Goldie and Child, and enlarged in 1904. It had three missions:
1) Good Shepherd, Acton Lane, Lower Place. Services were held by a curate of Saint Michael's c. 1883. In 1890 a new mission building was erected. The Good Shepherd Mission closed after 1908. It is mentioned in the baptism register DRO/112/008;
2) Saint Cecilia, Acton Lane, Harlesden. This mission church opened in 1895 and closed in 1956. Baptisms performed at the church are recorded in the following registers; DRO/112/008-010. There are also service registers covering the period 1895-1923 (ref. DRO/112/052-053);
3) Saint Peter, Harrow Road, Stonebridge. This mission was in operation from 1902. It closed after 1937.

Saint Barnabas was a mission church established by Saint Dunstan's, Acton, in 1884. An iron church was constructed at Stanley Terrace by 1894. The church was replaced by Saint Thomas's in 1915, and the building and site were sold.

From: A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 7: Acton, Chiswick, Ealing and Brentford, West Twyford, Willesden (1982), pp. 35-39.

The church of Saint Anselm originated in services held in a tent and then a temporary hall on the site of the church, beginning in 1935. By 1941 the permanent church had been constructed, using proceeds from the sale of the site of the church of Saint Anselm, Davies Street, Mayfair.

The church of Saint Luke, Mayfield Road, Hornsey, originated in an iron mission church established by the London Diocesan Home Mission in 1898. A permanent church was constructed between 1903 and 1908, designed by J. E. K. and J. P. Cutts. A vicarage was added in 1910. The parish was taken from those of Christ Church, Holy Trinity and Holy Innocents in 1903: it covered only 123 acres but was densely populated. The patron is the Bishop of London.

From: A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 6: Friern Barnet, Finchley, Hornsey with Highgate (1980), pp. 172-182.

The church of Saint Mary was founded in 1342 by the Priory of Takeley. The present church building dates to 1831, with extensions of 1888. The church has a long association with the Crown, which holds the Manor of Hampton.

Saint John's Mission Church, Brook Road, was dedicated in 1898. It was founded and is run by Saint Michael's, Wood Green.

Christ Church was founded in 1881 as a chapel of ease to Hendon parish church, Saint Mary's. A parish was assigned in 1923. The patron is the Bishop of London. The building was designed by S. Salter in an early Decorated style.

From: A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 5: Hendon, Kingsbury, Great Stanmore, Little Stanmore, Edmonton Enfield, Monken Hadley, South Mimms, Tottenham (1976), pp. 33-37.

Holy Trinity was opened in 1841 to relieve pressure on the over crowded parish church of Saint Mary the Virgin. A parish was assigned in 1842, the Bishop of London was patron. The church was designed in the Perpendicular style by G. Basevi, and was extended in 1863.

From: A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 3: Shepperton, Staines, Stanwell, Sunbury, Teddington, Heston and Isleworth, Twickenham, Cowley, Cranford, West Drayton, Greenford, Hanwell, Harefield and Harlington (1962), pp. 157-161.

The church of Saint Matthew was founded as a chapel of ease in 1858. A parish was assigned in 1874 from the southern portion of Hillingdon parish. The 1858 building was converted into a Lady chapel when the church was enlarged in 1898. The vicar of Saint John the Baptist, Hillingdon, is patron.

From: A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 4: Harmondsworth, Hayes, Norwood with Southall, Hillingdon with Uxbridge, Ickenham, Northolt, Perivale, Ruislip, Edgware, Harrow with Pinner (1971), pp. 87-91.

The church of Saint Michael and All Angels originated in an iron church established on Chiswick Lane in 1876. Between 1879 and 1909 a permanent brick church was constructed on Bath Road. A district was assigned in 1879, taken from the parishes of All Saints, South Acton, and Saint George, Old Brentford.

From: 'Chiswick: Churches', A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 7: Acton, Chiswick, Ealing and Brentford, West Twyford, Willesden (1982), pp. 90-93.

Saint Philip and Saint James was founded in 1862 by the vicar of Twickenham, who became the patron. A district was created out of Holy Trinity parish, but was later diminished by the formation of Saint Augustine's parish. The church was designed by F.H. Pownall in the Early English style.

From: 'Twickenham: Churches', A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 3: Shepperton, Staines, Stanwell, Sunbury, Teddington, Heston and Isleworth, Twickenham, Cowley, Cranford, West Drayton, Greenford, Hanwell, Harefield and Harlington (1962), pp. 157-161.

Christ Church was opened in 1937 as a second mission church to the parish of St Peter and St Paul, Harlington (DRO/164). It remained in temporary accommodation until 1966 when the Bishop of London dedicated the present building in Waltham Avenue.

In October 1955 the parish of Saint John the Evangelist, Upper Edmonton, merged with the parish of Saint Mary the Virgin, Lower Edmonton to become the parish of Saint John the Evangelist with Saint Mary, Edmonton. The parish church of Saint John became the parish church of the united parish. It is likely that the parish has since become part of Saint Mary Magdalene, Enfield.

Saint John the Evangelist, Palmers Green is the daughter church of Christ Church Southgate, which is in turn the daughter church of All Saints, Edmonton, the ancient parish church of the area. The foundation stone was laid on 17th October 1903 and the first part of the building was dedicated on 12th November 1904. The building was finally completed in 1908.

Saint Peter's, Uxbridge, originated in a mission established by the church of Saint Andrew, High Street, Uxbridge, in 1906.

The church of Saint Mary the Virgin originated as a mission started by Marlborough College, Wiltshire, in 1881. The church was consecrated in 1887, largely paid for by the College. In 1888 a consoldiated chapelry, taken from the parishes of All Hallows, Holy Trinity, and Saint Paul, was created. The Bishop of London was patron. The church building was designed by J. E. K. Cutts in the Early English style. The church ran mission halls in Mitchley Road, Stoneleigh South, Kemble Road and Lansdowne Road.

From: A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 5: Hendon, Kingsbury, Great Stanmore, Little Stanmore, Edmonton Enfield, Monken Hadley, South Mimms, Tottenham (1976), pp. 348-355.

The church of Saint Michael and Saint George was built in 1913 to designs by J.S. Adkins. The parish was assigned in 1914, taken from the parish of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Broad Street.

The church dates back to 1876.

The Diocese of Southwark was formed in 1905 and lies in the Church of England Province of Canterbury. The Diocese has jurisdiction over 317 square miles of London south of the River Thames, formerly in the ancient counties of Kent and Surrey, areas which had been in the Diocese of Rochester and vast Diocese of Winchester.

In 2003 the Diocese was serving a population of 2,358,000 in 302 parishes. It includes:

• parishes in the ancient county of Surrey, forming the Parliamentary Divisions of east and mid Surrey, which had been transferred from the Archdeaconry of Surrey in the Diocese of Winchester, to the Diocese of Rochester in 1878;
• parishes in the ancient county of Kent which had been transferred to the Diocese of London in 1846 and returned back to the Diocese of Rochester in 1867, namely Charlton, Lee, Lewisham, Greenwich, Woolwich, Eltham, Plumstead and Deptford;

• parishes in the former Deanery of Croydon which were peculiars of the Archbishop of Canterbury, namely Barnes, Bunstow, Charlwood, Cheam, East Horsley, Merstham, Mortlake, Newington, Putney and Wimbledon. The peculiars were parishes or places which were formerly exempt from the jurisdiction of the bishop in whose diocese they were physically located, and were answerable directly to the Archbishop of Canterbury. In 1846, Newington, Barnes, Putney, Mortlake and Wimbledon had ceased to be peculiars and became part of the Diocese of London, and in the same year the remaining peculiars of Addington and Croydon were transferred permanently to the Diocese of Canterbury.

  In 1927, the Diocese of Guildford was formed from parishes in the ancient county of Surrey remaining in the Archdeaconry of Surrey in the Diocese of Winchester and a few Hampshire parishes. In the late nineteenth century, the cathedral church at Winchester could not respond to the needs of the rapidly increasing populations in South London experiencing poor living and working conditions. Although the area had been transferred to the Diocese of Rochester in 1878, Anthony Thorold, Bishop of Rochester was determined that the religious life of South London would have its own firm identity. As a result, a Suffragan Bishop of Southwark was appointed in 1891 and the ancient parish church of Saint Saviours, Southwark was restored to become the pro-Cathedral in 1897. In 1904 an Act of Parliament created the new Diocese of Southwark and in 1905 the church became Southwark Cathedral (also known as the Cathedral and Collegiate Church of Saint Saviour and Saint Mary Overie).

  Edward Stuart Talbot, the 100th Bishop of Rochester, was enthroned as the first Bishop of Southwark. The bishop was faced with the challenge of building up the Church over the South London with a population of nearly two million inhabitants and great social disparities from the prosperous villages of Reigate or Kew and Edwardian suburbs to the appallingly overcrowded tenements of inner London.

  In 2003 the mission of the Diocese was:

• to 'pray for the renewing power and love of the Holy Spirit in our worship, work and witness';
• to 'seek the rule of God in our lives, our church, our communities, the life of the earth and the whole of creation';
• to 'Share the Faith - proclaiming the Good News, teaching and nurturing new believers, making disciples and equipping them for service';
• to 'Search for Truth - open to God's Word, exploring God's activity in different contexts and cultures';
• to 'Serve our Neighbour - responding to human need by loving service and by confronting the unjust structures of society';

• and to Follow Jesus - in his suffering love for the salvation of all people.

  In 2003, the Diocese of Southwark was divided into three Episcopal Areas each with a Suffragan Bishop and two Archdeacons:

• Croydon Episcopal Area: Bishop of Croydon, Archdeacon of Croydon, Archdeacon of Reigate.
• Kingston Episcopal Area: Bishop of Kingston, Archdeacon of Lambeth, Archdeacon of Wandsworth

• Woolwich Episcopal Area: Bishop of Woolwich, Archdeacon of Lewisham, Archdeacon of Southwark.

  The Diocese of Southwark was twinned with three Anglican Dioceses in Zimbabwe (2003).

  Bishops of Southwark (1905-2003): 1905 Edward Stuart Talbot 1911 Hubert Murray Burge 1919 Cyril Foster Garbett 1932 Richard Godfrey Parsons 1942 Bertram Fitzgerald Simpson 1959 Arthur Mervyn Stockwood 1980 Ronald Oliver Bowlby 1991 Robert Kerr Williamson 1998 Thomas Frederick Butler.

Francis Tyssen (d 1699) bought up manors in Hackney from 1697 onwards. He left his estates to his son Francis (d 1710) who in turn left them to his son Francis (d 1717). The latter Francis married Rachel, daughter of neighbouring landowner Richard de Beauvoir. His estates were left to his posthumous son Francis John Tyssen, who left the estates were left to his daughter Mary Tyssen. Her grandson William George Daniel (1801-55) took the surname Daniel-Tyssen. He married Amelia Amhurst. Their son William Amhurst Tyssen (1835-1909) adopted the surname Tyssen-Amherst in 1852, changing it to Tyssen-Amherst in 1877. His estates included 9488 acres at Didlington Hall, Norfolk, as well as the Hackney estates in London.

Richard de Beauvoir purchased the Manor of Hoxton or Balmes in 1687. He died in 1708 leaving the land to his son Osmond, who in turn left the manor to his son Reverend Peter de Beauvoir, who was the last sinecure rector of Hackney. He died in 1821, and the estate passed to Richard Benyon of Englefield House, Berkshire, the grandson of Francis John Tyssen's sister Mary Benyon, and the great-grandson of Richard de Beauvoir's daughter Rachel and her husband Francis Tyssen. Richard adopted the surname Benyon de Beauvoir. While in his ownership the estate was developed by William Rhodes into the area still known as De Beauvoir Town.

Information from 'Hackney: Manors', A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 10: Hackney (1995), pp. 75-91.

William Cotton, a former Governor of the Bank of England, owned a large amount of property in East London, mainly in Limehouse and Mile End. On his death his will (dated 6 Jul 1865) passed the estate to his executors and trustees (of whom his son was one) on condition it was to be further developed and held on trust for members of his family.

In June 1901 the estate was turned into a private company, known as the Bow Common Estate Company, limited by shares. The company remained a family concern however, and all of the shareholders were descendants of William Cotton. From 1921 the estate was sold, and the proceeds invested in trustee securities. These were realised in January 1926 and the Company liquidated, the proceeds of the realisation being distributed amongst the shareholders on a pro rata basis.

Peter du Cane, cloth merchant and businessman, purchased Braxted Park (near Witham in Essex) in 1751. The family estates were inherited by his son Peter in 1803; Peter's son Peter in 1823 and Peter's cousin Captain Charles du Cane, RN, in 1889. The family sold the estate in 1919.

See http://www.braxtedpark.co.uk/history.cfm for more information [accessed Aug 2011].

The Balham Estate of the Dean and Chapter of Ely comprised 1-65 (odd) Charville Terrace, 2-34 (even) Panmure Terrace, and a shop and premises on the corner of Alderbrook Road and Balham Hill. After street re-naming and re-numbering, 20 October 1891, these became 134-70 (even) and 99-67 (odd) Alderbrook Road and 38 Balham Hill, respectively.

The title Viscount Gort in the peerage of Ireland was created in 1816 for John Prendergast-Smyth, Baron Kiltarton. Gort is a town in County Galway. The 2nd Viscount Gort was Prendergast-Smyth's nephew Charles Vereker (1768-1842). On Charles' death in 1842 his son John Prendergast Vereker (1790-1865) became the 3rd Viscount. Apart from the Irish property most of the property featured in this collection came to the Gort family through Elizabeth Mary, the 3rd Viscount's wife, as daughter of John Jones and as widow of George Tudor.

No historical information has been found for the Hagen family.

This small group of documents shows some of the provision made by Benjamin Smith, who died in 1861, for his daughters Barbara (1827-1891) and Anne Leigh Smith; Barbara married Dr Eugene Bodichon in 1857. She was a tireless worker in improving the position of women, especially in education. Among her friends were Emily Davies and Elizabeth Garrett.