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St James the Great is the ancient church of Friern Barnet, a parish in north Middlesex about seven miles north of London, bordering Hertfordshire to the north, Finchley to the west, Hornsey to the south, and Edmonton and Tottenham to the south east. Further churches were erected in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to serve the growing population.

St John the Evangelist was built as a chapel of ease in 1891-1902. It was constructed to serve a populous part of the parish and attendance exceeded that at St James the Great before the chapel was even finished.

The church of St Peter le Poer was founded in 1866 as a mission serving Muswell Hill. In 1884 a temporary church was constructed which was used until 1909 when a permament structure was built, funded by money from the sale of the redundant church of St. Peter-le-Poer in the City of London.

Source of information: 'Friern Barnet: Churches', A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 6: Friern Barnet, Finchley, Hornsey with Highgate (1980), pp. 29-32. Available online.

In 1841 the parish of Great Stanmore was 1,441 acres in size, bounded to the north by Bushey Heath, to the east by the border of Hertfordshire, and to the south and west by Harrow.

A parish clerk was appointed from 1508 while churchwardens were first mentioned in 1580. The Vestry met on average 3 or 4 times a year, usually in the Queen's Head public house but subsequently at the church, workhouse or schoolroom. Parish officials appointed by the Vestry included overseers of the poor, surveyors of highways, a beadle, organist and sexton. The Vestry regulated the parish charities and provided poor relief in the provision of money, clothes, food and coal, management of two parish houses and the workhouse, and the provision of a medical officer and free vaccinations. The Vestry also appointed night watchmen and purchased fire-engines.

The advowson of the parish church was held by the abbot of Saint Albans in 1119. After the Reformation it passed to the owners of the manor until 1742 when the advowson was left to trustees and thus separated from the manor. Glebe lands attached to the living measured 32 acres in 1680, but this was steadily reduced, measuring 2 acres in 1940.

From around 1300 until 1632 the parish church stood on what became the corner of Old Church Lane and Wolverton Road. In 1632 a new church was constructed and dedicated to Saint John the Evangelist. This church became too small and its ruins stand in the churchyard of its replacement, built in 1849.

Source of information: A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 5: Hendon, Kingsbury, Great Stanmore, Little Stanmore, Edmonton Enfield, Monken Hadley, South Mimms, Tottenham (1976), pp. 102-107. Available online.

Hornsey parish is situated between Finchley and Friern Barnet, bordered by Tottenham, Stoke Newington, Clissold Park, Islington, Saint Pancras and Hampstead. The parish included two detached sections situated in Stoke Newington and another detached section near Colney Hatch (transferred to Friern Barnet in 1891). Within the parish, land at Muswell Hill belonged to the parish of Clerkenwell until it was transferred to Hornsey in 1901. The parish measured 2,978 acres in 1881, which was reduced to 2,875 acres in 1901.

Hornsey Vestry was first mentioned in 1688, while churchwardens were appointed from 1421 and at first carried out the functions of the overseers, who were active from 1612. Other parish officers included surveyors of the highways, an apothecary for the poor, master of the workhouse, beadle, engine-keeper, collector of rates and public health inspector. A workhouse was established in 1730, supervised by a Vestry committee.

The original parish church of Saint Mary was demolished in 1831 as it was too small and needed many repairs. The tower was retained and a new church built alongside it, finished in 1833. This church in turn became unsuitable and was closed in 1888, although it was not demolished until 1927. The tower was spared and the site was made into a garden. For the new church a different site was chosen, on the corner of Hornsey High Street and Church Lane, and the building was completed by 1889. The church contained space for 1,200 and was considered to be the finest 19th century church in Middlesex. Unfortunately the subsoil was unstable and cracks began to appear, forcing the demolition of the building in 1969. Church services were held in the church hall.

Source of information: 'Hornsey, including Highgate: Churches', A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 6: Friern Barnet, Finchley, Hornsey with Highgate (1980), pp. 101-182.

The parish of Stanwell was situated in the west of Middlesex. It is bordered by Staines, the River Colne, East Bedfont and Hounslow Heath. In 1930 the parish was 3,934 acres in size. The first endowment of a church in Stanwell was probably in 1204. By around 1250 the rectory of Stanwell had become a sinecure, and by 1254 there was a vicarage. In 1415 the advowson was given to Chertsey Abbey. This was surrendered to the Crown in 1537 and the advowson has remained the property of the Crown since then, although it was often leased out. The oldest parts of the church of Saint Mary date to the 13th century, while further additions date to the 14th century and restorations were carried out in 1863. The graveyard was mentioned in 1337 but was closed for burials in 1895. The church ran missions in Hithermoor Road and West Bedfont.

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. 33-49. Available online.

This parish was originally formed out of the parish of Barnet and was within the Diocese of St Albans. The records were deposited by the Vicar of St Paul's Church, New Southgate, as the parishes were united and St Michael's Church closed in 1972. St Paul's became the parish church for the united parish. The church was demolished in 1973.

The church of Saint John the Evangelist was built between 1843 and 1846 to serve the southern part of Harrow parish. The land and money for the construction of the church was provided by sisters Anne and Frances Copland of Sudbury Lodge. The church building was designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott in a Gothic style. The church was given a separate parish in 1846, and the living was made a vicarage in 1872. The advowson is exercised by trustees.

From: 'Harrow, including Pinner : Modern 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. 257-260. Available online.

St James' Church was built as a chapel of ease to St Mary, Hornsey for the benefit of the inhabitants of Muswell Hill. It was consecrated on 25 July 1842 and in 1843 it was assigned a consolidated chapelry. The original chapel soon became too small for the growing population of Muswell Hill. It was enlarged in 1874 and further extensions were necessary by the 1890s. In 1900 the old church was demolished and a much larger church was built partly on the site of the old church and partly on the grounds of the the vicarage. The new church was completed in 1910 with the construction of the tower and spire. The church was badly damaged by bombing on 19 April 1941. Temporary repairs allowed the congregation to return to St James' Church in April 1944. The church was restored after the War and was rededicated by the Bishop of London on 24 October 1952. The daughter parish of St Matthew, Muswell Hill, formed out of St James' parish in 1939, was reunited with St James in 1979.

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.

St James' Church was erected by the Commissioners for Building New Churches and assigned a particular district in 1834 which became a separate parish in 1845. This comprised all that part of the parish of Enfield to the east of an imaginary line drawn 150 yards to the west of the London to Ware turnpike road. St Matthew, Ponders End was built as a chapel of ease to St James in 1877/8 and became a separate parish in 1899. St George's Mission Church, Enfield Wash, was in existence by 1886. It was replaced by a permanent church built 1900-1906 and was assigned a parish in 1901. When the Royal Small Arms Factory Chapel closed in 1921, it was replaced by the church of St Peter and St Paul, Enfield Lock, a chapel of ease to St James. A new church of St Peter and St Paul was consecrated in 1969 and assigned a parish.

St John's was built by private subscription, on land given by Joseph Baxendale in 1832, as a chapel of ease to Finchley. In 1836 it became a district chapelry and in 1876 a parish. The church was enlarged in 1879 and 1898. It has no burial ground.

Saint Martin's Church was consecrated on 25 February 1911, and was assigned a consolidated chapelry on 12 May 1911. The church was closed in May 1977 and was formally declared redundant on 1 April 1978. The parish was united with Saint Peter, Bounces Road, Edmonton. The church building is now used by the Greek Orthodox Church.

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.

The church of Saint Peter, Page Green, Tottenham, originated in a mission hall built by the Draper's Company to serve the poor and populous district between Page Green and Tottenham Hale in 1883-4. Ten years later a permanent building was planned, which was consecrated in 1900 when a district chapelry was formed out of Holy Trinity parish. The church was declared redundant in July 1973 and the parish was reunited with Holy Trinity, Tottenham.

The medieval parish church of Perivale or Little Greenford, St Mary the Virgin, is situated in the valley of the River Brent south of Western Avenue in the south west corner of the parish. When suburban development reached Perivale in the 1930s, a mission church dedicated to St Nicholas was built on the north side of Western Avenue, where most of the development was taking place. The parish was extended to the east in 1932 to take in part of St James, Alperton and St Barnabas, Ealing. St Nicholas' Church was consecrated in 1935 and was assigned a conventional district, but was never licensed for marriages. It was placed in the care of a missioner with the intention that in time it would become a separate parish. It had its own Parochial Church Council and published its own parish magazine. In the 1950s the Bishop of London decided that Perivale should remain one parish. At the end of 1955 St Nicholas again became an integral part of the parish of Perivale and ceased to maintain separate accounts. The missioner was replaced by a priest-in-charge under the authority of the Rector of Perivale. The two parts of the parish were brought closer together at the end of 1959 when the priest-in-charge of St Nicholas, the Reverend W H Hobday, became Rector of Perivale. A new parish church was built in the early 1960s to replace both St Mary and St Nicholas. It is situated in Federal Road adjacent to St Nicholas Church, which is now the parish hall. It was consecrated in 1965 and dedicated to both St Mary the Virgin and St Nicholas. The old parish church was restored and continued in use until 1972 when it was closed and declared redundant. It is now an arts centre. St Mary's burial ground has been closed but occasional interments still take place there in private graves. The Perivale Committee was set up by St Mary's Parochial Church Council.

The church of St. Mary The Virgin has parts dating to 1130, although the church has been subsequently extended and restored. The advowson of the church was granted to the priory of the Holy Trinity, Hounslow. A vicarage was endowed by the Bishop of London in 1316, and the advowson was granted to the Bishop after the Dissolution.

From: 'Spelthorne Hundred: East Bedfont with Hatton', A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 2: General; Ashford, East Bedfont with Hatton, Feltham, Hampton with Hampton Wick, Hanworth, Laleham, Littleton (1911), pp. 309-314. 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 church of Saint Michael, Cricklewood, was founded in 1907 by the London Diocesan Home Mission. A church building was completed in 1909, seating 754. The parish was assigned in 1910, taken from Saint Gabriel's parish. The patron was the Bishop of London. By 1941 the parish was in the charge of the vicar of Saint Gabriel's; and in 1949 the benefice was suspended. The church established a mission in 1907 that was later used as a parish hall.

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 chapel of Saint Mary, so called circa 1300 and in 1535, stood west of the manor house and was one of the smallest churches in Middlesex, seating around 40 people. It was rebuilt circa 1712 by Frederick Herne and in 1800 was a plain gabled building of brick with round-headed windows, a western entrance, and a bellcot. Thomas Willan and his architect William Atkinson removed the road between the church and the manor house, covering both buildings with cement to give the appearance of stone, and embellishing them with Gothic details. To accommodate a growing population, a church hall was built in 1937 and used for worship until in 1958 a new church, incorporating the old one as a Lady Chapel, was built to the design of N. F. Cachemaille-Day.

From: 'West Twyford: Church', A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 7: Acton, Chiswick, Ealing and Brentford, West Twyford, Willesden (1982), pp. 175-176.

The church of Saint Paul, Northfields Road, was constructed in a Gothic style in 1906 to 1907, seating 850. A parish was assigned in 1907, taken from Saint John's, Ealing Dean. The patron is the Bishop of London.

Source of information: A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 7: Acton, Chiswick, Ealing and Brentford, West Twyford, Willesden (1982), pp. 150-153.

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 parish of Christ Church was formed in 1867 from St Mary's Willesden; its patron and first rector being Dr Charles Williams. The Church, a limestone building in thirteenth century style, was designed by C.R.B. King and constructed between 1866-1909. It had a High Church reputation. The Church was damaged by bombs in 1940 and not reopened until 1948. During this period, services were held at Mapesbury Hall and St. Gabriel's, Cricklewood. In 1971, the parish was united with Saint Laurence, Brondesbury. In 1990 Christ Church was substantially remodelled; much of the building was converted to flats, with a reduced church remaining in operation.

The church of Saint Mark, Lower Boston Road, Hanwell, was constructed in 1879 in a Decorated style and was initially used as a chapel of ease to the parishes of Saint Mary and Saint Mellitus. The church was assigned its own parish in 1919 with the Bishop of London as patron.

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. 230-233.

Teddington began as a chapelry of Staines, under the jurisdiction of the priest at Staines. It gained independence as a parish by the end of the Middle Ages, when patronage was transferred to the manor. The church of Saint Mary was a medieval construction, however, later repairs and rebuilding has meant that no part of the present building dates from before the 16th century. In 1889 the church was closed for services and Saint Albans became the parish church. Repairs were carried out and the church reopened for occasional use in 1898.

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. 76-79.

The church of Saint Mary on Fore Street, Edmonton, was constructed in 1884. A parish had been assigned in 1883. The vicar of Edmonton, Robert S Gregory, gave £3,000 to the cost of construction. The church was demolished in 1957 and a small chapel opened in the vicarage. However, the vicarage was then demolished so a new building, Saint Mary's Church Centre, was constructed in 1970, containing a small church, meeting hall and accommodation for Sisters of the Community of St. Mary the Virgin.

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. 181-187.

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 Barnabas was constructed between 1940 and 1954, delayed because of the Second World War. A parish was assigned in 1954, formed from the north-east area of Saint Mary's parish, Northolt, and part of the Greenford parish of Holy Cross. The patron of the living is the Bishop of London.

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. 119-121.

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

The church of Saint Stephen began as an iron building in 1867. A district was assigned in 1876 from the parish of Christ Church. A permanent building was constructed between 1875 and 1880. The building was repaired in 1951 and 1953 and modernised in 1966, but was declared unsafe and closed in 1978-79. Services were held in the hall until a new church building was opened in 1987 in Saint Stephen's Road.

From: A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 7: Acton, Chiswick, Ealing and Brentford, West Twyford, Willesden (1982), pp. 150-153.

Ashford was part of the parish of Staines until the 19th century. A mission chapel was founded towards the end of that century to serve the expanding population. A permanent church was consecrated in 1928.

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.

Holy Trinity, Wealdstone, was constructed in 1882 to serve the expanding population. It was built on land donated by Christ Church, Oxford. The parish was assigned in 1881 out of the parishes of Harrow, Harrow Weald, and Pinner. Holy Trinity is now one of two churches in the parish of Trinity St Michael. Its sister church is St Michael and All Angels.

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. 257-260.

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.

The parish of All Souls, Saint Margaret's-on-Thames lies within Hounslow Deanery, which is within the Kensington Area of the Diocese of London. The parish boundaries are described in detail in the Parish Magazine for January 1899 (DRO/169/K/01/001), with further comments in the magazine for January 1959 (DRO/169/K/01/035).

The parish church of All Souls, Saint Margaret's-on-Thames was dedicated on 2 January 1898. It replaced a temporary iron church dedicated to Saint Margaret, which had been used for worship since 6 February 1886.

The parish of Saint Martin was founded in 1907 from parts of the parishes of Saint Mary's, Acton, and Christ Church, Acton and Saint Mary's, Ealing. An iron church was dedicated in 1903, but was replaced in 1906 by a permanent brick church designed by E. Monson. The iron church was used as a hall until 1960 when a new one was constructed.

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

Saint Martin's Church was formed in 1899. It was built as a memorial church to Charles J. Vaughan (died 1897), headmaster of Harrow School and dean of Llandaff. The parish was formed from Saint Mary's, Saint John's, Kensal Green, Hammersmith, and Kensington in 1900. The church building was constructed in 1899, designed by J. E. K. and J. P. Cutts. The church organised a mission in Harrow Road between 1899 and 1908.

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

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

The church of Saint Mark was founded as a mission of All Soul's Church, Station Road, Harlesden, in 1903. A parish was established in 1915, using an endowment transferred from Saint Olave's in Mile End. An iron church was replaced by a brick building in 1914.

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

Christ Church, Roxeth was built in 1862 and had a capacity of 350 people. The building was designed and built by George Gibert Scott, who would later be knighted. The church consisted of a chancel, nave, transepts, north aisle and a tower with a small spire, a later addition to the church was a south aisle which was added in 1866. The building underwent restoration work between 1953 and 1954, this was carried out by G.H. Jenkins.

Christ Church became a district chapelry in 1863, it was created from the mother parish of Harrow and bordering the new chapelry of St John the Evangelist in Wembley. There was a perpetual curate at the church until 1873 when a vicar was appointed. Between 1963 and 1964 the church was served by a vicar and a curate. The patronage was originally exercised by trustees and in 1963-4 by the Church Patronage Society. During the early 1980's church attendance declined and the parishes of Christ Church and St Peter's amalgamated to become The Parish of Christ Church, Roxeth and St Peter, Harrow.

Source: 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 257-260

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.

St Paul's church in Grove Park was built in 1872, largely thanks to the benefaction of William Cavendish, 7th Duke of Devonshire. It was designed by Henry Currey, the Duke's appointed architect. It has been used for Christian worship ever since.

The church of Saint Benet (short for Saint Benedict) Fink in Tottenham was built in 1911 and consecrated in May 1912 by the Bishop of London. It was designed by J.S. Alder in a style reminiscent of Gothic cathedral architecture. The building is currently Grade II listed.

However, the history of St Benet Fink Tottenham goes back much further, as the church is essentially a continuation of St Benet Fink in the City of London (see P69/BEN1). The original St Benet was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666, rebuilt, and eventually demolished by the City of London Corporation in 1846 in order to improve the site around the Royal Exchange. The parish of St Benet Fink was combined with that of St Peter le Poer, and the proceeds of the sale of the site were used to build St Benet Fink Tottenham. After the church of St Peter le Poer was also eventually demolished, St Benet Fink Tottenham received its organ, which is now one of the most important features of the church.

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.

The diocese of Winchester has existed since the seventh century, when the episcopal seat was transferred to Winchester in 676 from the West Saxon bishopric of Dorchester-on-Thames. During this period it covered the entire West Saxon area but was reduced in size, first in the eighth century, when Dorset, Somerset, Devon and Cornwall were taken to form the diocese of Sherborne, and then again in the tenth century, when the diocese of Ramsbury, later Salisbury, was formed from Wiltshire and Berkshire.

By the tenth century the diocese of Winchester consisted of the counties of Hampshire (including the Isle of Wight) and Surrey. These boundaries remained virtually unchanged until 1877 when the area of south London administered by the diocese of Winchester, now covered by the diocese of Southwark, was added to the diocese of Rochester. The diocese of Southwark was formed in 1905. The greatest change came in 1927 when the new dioceses of Guildford, covering Surrey and some parishes in north east Hampshire, and Portsmouth, taking in south east Hampshire and the Isle of Wight were formed. The present day diocese of Winchester covers parishes in central and west Hampshire. It also includes the Channel Islands which were added to the diocese in 1568.

Up until 1927, the diocese has two archdeaconries, the archdeaconry of Surrey which included most of Surrey and the archdeaconry of Winchester which included Hampshire (and had included the Isle of Wight until 1871 when the archdeaconry of the Isle of Wight was constituted).

G Bedford is a party mentioned in the marriage settlement of 1843.

William Bagshaw was a gentleman and accountant of Coleman Street.

John Bacon (1740-1799) was born in Southwark and apprenticed to a porcelain factory. His skill as a designer and sculptor was recognised and he was encouraged to exhibit with the Society of Arts, and attended the Royal Academy Schools. From designing porcelain for factories including Wedgwood, he became a highly sought after sculptor of monuments and public statues. His work included the monument to Thomas Guy at Guy's Hospital chapel, the monument to William Pitt the Elder at Westminster Abbey, the bust of Dr Johnson in St Paul's Cathedral, and colossal figures at Somerset House. He established a successful studio workshop which produced funerary monuments, garden sculpture and portrait busts for private clients.

Bacon's sons John the younger (1777-1859) and Thomas (b 1773) were apprenticed at their father's studio and then attended the Royal Academy Schools. On Bacon's death John the younger took over the studio, completing his father's commissions and proving just as successful at attracting new civic and imperial commissions. Thomas is recorded as assisting him, but disappears from the documents after 1800. From 1808 John Bacon retired from carrying out public works to focus on architectural and church sculpture. He formed a partnership with Charles Manning (1776-1812) and then his brother Samuel Manning (1788-1842), allowing them to carry on the work of the studio and use the Bacon name.

John Bacon died in 1859. His sons, John and Thomas, were both clergymen who are recorded as trustees of their father's estate (see E/BN/007, 009-010).

Information from Mary Ann Steggles, 'Bacon, John (1740-1799)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Jan 2008 and Jason Edwards, 'Bacon, John (1777-1859)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004.

Bovril Limited are now owned by Unilever. The following history is from the Unilever website (accessed Oct 2009): "Way back in 1871, Napoleon ordered a million cans of beef for his hungry army. A Scot, John Lawson Johnston, rose to the challenge with his invention "Johnston's Fluid Beef". This was renamed Bovril back in 1886, and so the beefy drink we know and love was born. 16 years later, on Christmas Day of 1902, and far, far away near the South Pole, Captain Scott and Ernest Shackleton supped on a cup of Bovril after a chilling 4-hour march. By 1909, it wasn't just explorers and soldiers that took strength from Bovril; hundreds and thousands of football supporters up and down the country were gulping down steaming hot cups of Bovril. In fact, by this time, Bovril was so popular with Brits that an electric advertising sign was erected in London's Piccadilly Circus. By 1968, the Bovril empire owned Argentinean beef ranches that totalled the equivalent to half the size of England. Production was also moved from London to its current home in Burton on Trent." (http://www.ubfoods.co.uk/brands/foodbrands/bovril.aspx).