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The Public Assistance Department was set up under the 1929 Local Government Act which followed the recommendations of the Macclean Report. Under section 1 of the Act the functions of the existing Poor Law Guardians were transferred to the County Council from 1 April 1930. Section 4 of the Act required that a scheme for the administration of such functions be submitted to the Ministry of Health for approval. The Middlesex (Public Assistance) Scheme 1929 was approved and the first meeting of the Public Health, Housing and Public Assistance Committee sat on 16 January 1930.

The 1929 Act did not abolish the Poor Law system, but transferred its administrative functions. Poor Law had its origins in the 1601 Poor Relief Act which put the responsibility for providing relief onto the parish. The 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act established Boards of Guardians and grouped parishes together into Poor Law Unions for which the Guardians took responsibility. The single most important function of the Poor Law Guardians was to administer, regulate, and dispense relief to the poor and destitute. Other functions included child care (the 1872 Infant Life Protection Act and 1908 Children Act] and the administration of hospitals, care of the homeless and single mothers.

Under section 1 of the 1929 Act the Middlesex County Council took responsibility for the following: consideration and examination of applicants for relief, determination of the nature and amount of any relief granted, determination of any reimbursement to the council; making arrangements for the casual poor and administration of casual wards; and managing institutions and staff, visitation and inspection and making arrangements with other counties for joint use of institutions. The office of Director of Public Assistance was created. The Director was responsible to the Public Assistance Committee and Clerk of the County Council and had the following tasks: control of the staff dealing with Poor Law administration; keeping records and indexes; supply of goods, materials and provisions to the poor law institutions; arranging settlement, emigration, casuals, schemes for dealing with the able bodied unemployed; adoption, boarding out and apprenticeship of children and reporting to the Public Assistance Committee and Supervising Guardians meetings.

Before the 1929 Local Government Act the following Poor Law Unions existed in Middlesex: Brentford; Edmonton; (which had the out county parishes of Cheshunt and Waltham); Hendon; Staines; and Willesden. The parishes of Hampton, Hampton Wick and Teddington were in Kingston Union and the parishes of Finchley, Friern Barnet and South Mimms were in Barnet Union. The Middlesex (Public Assistance) Scheme 1929 divided the County into the following 6 areas for the purposes of administration: North Middlesex; North east Middlesex; Central Middlesex; Willesden; West Middlesex and South Middlesex.

Each area had a Guardians Committee of 18 members to administer the relief functions transferred to the County Council, namely to interview all applicants for relief and distribute it. The Committees also inspected and reported on institutions in their areas. In 1931 the Committees were delegated the function of making determinations of relief for the unemployed under the Unemployment Insurance (Transitional / Payments) Regulations 1931.

Middlesex County Council Act 1934:

In 1934 the Public Assistance Department was overhauled. Problems had arisen with the Guardians Committees because large scale migration into Middlesex had increased the number of relief applications. In addition the committees varied in their generosity towards applicants. In October 1932 the Ministry of Health criticised the out relief system in one Middlesex area and this resulted in County Scales and Regulations being introduced. When a Guardians Committee wished to deviate from these rules they had to submit their case to the Public Assistance Committee. As large numbers of submissions were made by certain committees the County Council decided it would be more effective for them to run the service directly.

The Middlesex County Council Act 1934 gave the County Council direct and complete control over the administration of relief by means of abolishing the Guardians Committees. The work of the Guardians Committees was assumed by a Relief Sub-Committee made up entirely of Council Members. The County was re-divided into 8 new areas, grouped in 4 sections: Area 1: North Middlesex and North East Middlesex; Area 2: East Middlesex; Area 3: North East Middlesex and Central Middlesex and Area 4: South Middlesex, West Middlesex and South West Middlesex.

Each area had an Area Officer and a Deputy Area Officer. The Area Officers were in charge of the staff in their regions and advised the County Council Committees on granting relief. The area offices were allocated to Edmonton (area 1), Tottenham (area 2), Kilburn (area 3) and Brentford (area 4). An Adjudicating Officer was appointed to each area to interview applicants for relief and investigate liable relations. Hospital Almoners sent financial details about patients to the Area Officers. Appeals by relief applicants could be made and were heard by the Sub Committees.

National Health Service Act 1946 and National Assistance Act 1946:

The National Health Service Act transferred the County Council's responsibility for the provision of a countrywide hospital service to the new regional hospital boards. The Act came into force in July 1948. In the same month the National Assistance Act was enforced and transferred the responsibility of the County Councils for relieving financial distress to the National Assistance Board. Thus the functions of the Public Assistance Department were radically overhauled and a new Welfare Department was set up as its successor. The first meeting of the Welfare Committee took place on 5 July 1948.

Under the National Assistance Act the Welfare Department had the following functions: provision of residential accommodation for the aged and infirm; provision of temporary accommodation for the homeless; promotion of the welfare of people with disabilities such as blindness; administration of the registration of all homes for the elderly and disabled and responsibility to insure the homes were suitably maintained; registration of charities for the disabled and provision of temporary protection of moveable property of certain persons.

The following areas were used to administer these responsibilities within Middlesex: Area 1: Enfield, Edmonton; Area 2: Southgate, Wood Green, Potters Bar, Friern Barnet; Area 3: Tottenham, Hornsey; Area 4: Hendon, Finchley; Area 5: Harrow; Area 6: Wembley, Willesden; Area 7: Ealing, Acton; Area 8: Uxbridge, Rusilip-Northwood, Hayes and Harlington, Yiewsley and West Drayton; Area 9: Brentford and Chiswick, Southall, Heston and Isleworth and Area 10: Twickenham, Staines, Feltham, Sunbury on Thames.

On 1 April 1965 on the abolition of the Middlesex County Council the functions of the Welfare Department were transferred to the newly established London Boroughs.

The Middlesex Provincial Joint Industrial Council was affiliated to the National Joint Industrial Council. The Council considered the working conditions, health, and welfare provisions for manual workers of all local authorities in Middlesex. The Council also had some responsibility to education, training and the protection of rights and inventions. It liaised with the National Council and other Provincial Councils. The Council consisted of representatives elected from the Middlesex County Council, lower tier authorities (borough councils and urban districts) and trade unions.

The City Road Congregational Chapel was founded in 1848. The congregation had been assembling in temporary premises at Chadwell Street, Islington; Barford Street School, Finsbury and at Islington Green Chapel.

Lower Street (now Essex Road) Congregational Chapel was built in 1744 on the south corner of Greenman's Lane. It was the first dissenting chapel in Islington. During the ministry of John Gawsell, 1761-1768, seceders met in Ward's Place, an old house just south of the chapel, but the congregation was reunited when their minisiter left. Numbers rose after 1768 and galleries were built to provide added accommodation. The church was known as Islington Meeting House in 1800. The Chapel was much enlarged in 1820, when the front was brought forward. A schoolroom for 200 was also later added. Attendance in 1851 was 476 in the morning and 560 in the evening. The lease expired in 1865 and a new chapel in River Street (later River Place) was registered in 1864. A lecture room was added by 1872. However, attendance in 1903 was 19 in the morning and 86 in the evening, and the church closed in 1909.

Source: A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 8: Islington and Stoke Newington parishes (1985), pp. 101-115.

The Congregationalists registered a temporary church in Upton Road (later part of Belsize Road) in 1856, and formed a church in 1858. A permanent building in Greville Place, Kilburn, was opened in 1859.

The Southgate Road Chapel was built adjoining a school at the north corner of Balmes Road. It was registered Congregational in 1860-1869. Attendance in 1886 was 204 in the morning and 237 in the evening. By 1903 attendance was 57 in the morning and 205 in the evening. The church closed between 1935 and 1938. It is likely that the Southgate Road Chapel was founded when the congregation of the Pavement Chapel, Hoxton, found it was too small for their needs and decided to construct a larger church.

White's Row Congregational Chapel was built, probably in about 1755, by a congregation of Independents [Congregationalists] under Edward Hitchin, which had met previously in Artillery Lane Chapel. Hitchin died in 1774 and was succeeded by Nathaniel Trotman. The congregation was then large, drawing most of its members from within a mile of the chapel: Trotman's reception service was attended by 1,200 persons. He died in 1792 and was followed by John Goode, who served the chapel until his resignation in 1826, by which time the congregation had dwindled considerably. The Reverend Henry Townley became minister in 1828. In 1836 the congregation left White's Row, the lease having nearly expired, and after a short stay in Bury Street Chapel, built Bishopsgate Chapel in the City of London.

From: Survey of London: volume 27: Spitalfields and Mile End New Town (1957), pp. 127-147.

The Park Crescent Congregational Church, Clapham, was founded in 1819.

The church of Saint Mark was constructed under the Act of 1818 for providing additional churches in populous areas, particularly in expanding parts of London such as Lambeth. The building began in 1822 and the church was consecrated in June 1824. The architect was D. R. Roper, who designed a Classical Grecian building seating over two thousand people. Restorations took place in the 1870s, in 1901 and in 1949 after Second World War bomb damage.

Information from: 'Kennington: Common land', Survey of London: volume 26: Lambeth: Southern area (1956), pp. 31-36.

The church of Saint Mary at Lambeth was the ancient parish church of Lambeth. The original foundation existed before the Norman conquest. The church had a unique position as it was placed so close to Lambeth Palace, the London residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and many of its rectors also held positions in the Archbishops' household. The medieval building was demolished and rebuilt in 1851 to the designs of Philip Charles Hardwick. Some of the old stones and features were incorporated into the new building. As the population of Lambeth expanded in the nineteenth century it became necessary to reduce the size of the parish of Saint Mary and create new, smaller parishes. This process began in 1824 with the construction of the churches of Saint John the Evangelist and Saint Luke, West Norwood. Saint Mary at Lambeth church was closed in October 1972.

Source of information: 'Church of St Mary, Lambeth', Survey of London: volume 23: Lambeth: South Bank and Vauxhall (1951), pp. 104-117.

The parish of Saint Peter, Vauxhall was created from part of the district chapelry of Saint Mary-the-Less in 1861. The church, which was designed by John Loughborough Pearson, was consecrated on 28 June 1864. Saint Paul's Chapel, Miller Lane (now Saint Oswald's Place) was used as a temporary church for the district whilst the church of Saint Peter was being built. In 1983 the parish became part of North Lambeth Parish.

For a description of the design and building of the church and a discussion of the Reverend Robert Gregory's social experiment in the provision of schools, including an art school, and a soup kitchen and orphanage connected to the church see pp 64-78 and 259-60 of the monograph John Loughborough Pearson by Anthony Quiney (Yale UP, 1979).

The church was consecrated in 1870. The architect was R.W. Drew, and the building was completed by G.F. Prynne. The parish was formed out of part of the ancient parish of Saint Leonard, Streatham (P95/LEN). The Patron of Saint Peter's Streatham is Saint Stephen's House, Oxford.

Saint Saviour's Church was consecrated on 25 June 1867. It was preceeded by a temporary church erected on the north side of Cold Harbour Lane in 1864. In November 1956 the parish was united with the parish of Saint Matthew, Denmark Hill, to become the parish of Saint Saviour with Saint Matthew, Ruskin Park. Saint Saviour's church building was placed under a redundancy order in March 1980. It was demolished before it could fall down (1982).

The church of Saint Stephen was constructed between 1859 and 1861 in response to the increasing number of residents in this area. The church was designed by John Barnett in a Gothic style; it seated 1,200. A parish was assigned in 1861, taken from the parish of Saint Michael's, Stockwell; while a nearby primary school was transferred to the parish in 1862.

From: Survey of London: volume 26: Lambeth: Southern area (1956), pp. 62-65.

The church of Saint Augustine, Honor Oak Park, Forest Hill, was constructed between 1872 and 1873, opening for worship in June that year. A parish was assigned in 1874, taken from the parish of Christ Church in Forest Hill.

Emmanuel parish was formed out of parts of the parishes of Saint Peter, Elgin Avenue, Westminster (P87/PET) and Saint Jude, Lancefield Street, Kensal Green (P87/JUD). The church was built in 1885-86, designed by John Thomas Lee.

The parish of Saint John the Evangelist was created from part of the parish of Saint James, Sussex Gardens (P87/JS). The church originated as the Connaught Chapel, built in 1826. It was extended in 1830-31 and further altered in 1895.

The church of Saint John the Evangelist, Kensal Green, was constructed in 1844. It was originally a detached portion of Chelsea parish, but a separate parish was assigned in 1845 taken from parts of the neighbouring parishes. A chancel was added in 1903.

The church of Saint James is the ancient parish church of Paddington. It existed before 1222, as a chapel. The first parish church was probably dedicated to Saint Katherine and was demolished in 1678; to be replaced by the church dedicated to Saint James. Between 1791 and 1843 the church of Saint Mary, Paddington Green, acted as the parish church. The church of Saint James was demolished in 1791. A new church of Saint James was constructed in 1841-43, enlarged in 1881. From 1885 onwards the ancient parish was divided up into smaller parishes to reflect the population increase in this area.

The first parish church of Paddington stood on Paddington Green and was probably dedicated to Saint Katherine. This was demolished in 1678 and replaced by a church dedicated to Saint James. This in turn was demolished and replaced by Saint Mary's, which was constructed between 1788 and 1791. It became the parish church. In 1845 it was superseded by the newly constructed and larger church of Saint James, Sussex Gardens (P87/JS). Most of the older parish records were transferred in 1845 from Saint Mary's to Saint James.

Saint Mary's became a district chapelry. Actress Sarah Siddons (born 1755) was buried here in June 1831. Other notable graves are those of B R Haydon, the painter of gigantic historical canvases who committed suicide (1846), artist William Collins RA (1847), Sarah Disraeli, the statesman's favourite sister; and Harriet, the unhappy first wife of poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, who drowned herself in the Serpentine after he had deserted her (1816).

Saint Paul's originated in a temporary church set up as a chapel of ease for the parish of Holy Trinity (P87/TRI). A permanent church was constructed in 1873 and a parish assigned, taken from part of the parish of Holy Trinity. The church was bombed in 1940 and demolished in 1953. The parish was reunited with Holy Trinity.

Saint Simon's was constructed in 1898-99. The parish was assigned in the same year, taken from the parishes of Saint John the Evangelist, Hyde Park Corner (P87/JNE1) and Saint Jude, Lancefield Street (P87/JUD). The parishes of Saint Simon, Saint Luke, Fernhead Road, (P87/LUK1) and Saint Jude were united in 1952. Saint Luke's Church became the parish church of the united parish, redesignated as Saint Luke the Evangelist with Saint Simon and Saint Jude. Saint Simon's was closed.

All Hallows, Devons Road, was built using money from the sale of the City church of All Hallows, Bread Street. It was constructed in 1874. In 1940 it sufffered bomb damage, but was rebuilt in 1954-55.

The parish of Saint John, Cubitt Town, Isle of Dogs, was established in 1873. It originated in a mission begun in 1866; which was replaced by a permanent church in 1872, designed by Sir A W Blomfield. The building was badly damaged by enemy action during the Second World War and was demolished. The 'Island Parishes' of Saint John's, Christ Church (P88/CTC) and Saint Luke's, Westferry Road (P88/LUK) were united in 1952 and the old mission hall was converted for use as a church. This also had to be demolished following a fire in 1970. The modern parish of Christ and Saint John with Saint Luke now uses two buildings: Christ Church and Saint Luke's.

Saint Mary's originated as the Lady Chapel of the Benedictine convent of St Leonard, which had been established by the reign of King Stephen (1135-54). The convent was disbanded in 1541 but the chapel remained in use, becoming a parish church. The building was reconstructed during the nineteenth century but was subsequently damaged during the Second World War. The ruins were demolished to make way for the Blackwall Tunnel approach road. The parish was united with St Mary, Stratford Bow (P88/MRY1), in 1964.

Saint Andrew's was constructed in 1845-47 on Wells Street, Marylebone, designed by Samuel Daukes. It was well-known for High Anglican services. In 1932 it was decided to close the church since the population of the area had decreased. The stones were numbered and the building was carefully demolished and rebuilt in Old Church Lane, Kingsbury, Brent.

Saint Barnabas' Church was consecrated in 1865. The church was badly damaged by bombing during the Second World War. From 1941 the parish was administered by the Rector of Christ Church, Cosway Street, with St John's Wood Chapel, who was based at St John's House. The reorganisation scheme for Marylebone proposed that Saint Barnabas' Church should be closed and the parish united with Christ Church, Cosway Street (P89/CTC). The scheme was ratified legally by Order in Council in March 1952, though it had been put into effect in practice by 1948.

Christ Church, Cosway Street was founded in 1825 as one of the four district rectories established by Act of Parliament within the parish of St Marylebone. St John's Wood Chapel (P89/JN1) which had been built in 1814 as a chapel of ease to Saint Marylebone parish church (P89/MRY1) became in 1898 a chapel of ease to Christ Church, Cosway Street, served by its own minister until the 1920s. The Rector of Christ Church, the Reverend T. G. Brierley Kay moved from Christ Church House into St John's House in 1932 and increasingly the parish appears to have been administered from St John's House. His successor, the Reverend O. H. Gibbs-Smith, appointed Rector of Christ Church in June 1941, was also in charge of the parishes of Saint Barnabas, Bell Street (P89/BAN) and Saint Stephen, Avenue Road, with Saint Andrew, Allitsen Road.

The scheme for the parochial reorganisation of Marylebone published in 1945 proposed that the parish of Christ Church should be united with Saint Barnabas, Bell Street while it would lose St John's Wood Chapel which was to become the new parish church of what was essentially the former parish of Saint Stephen, Avenue Road. Although this scheme was not legally implemented until 1952, it came into force defacto at the beginning of 1948 when, on the resignation of the Reverend O. H. Gibbs-Smith, separate incumbents were appointed for the parishes of Christ Church with Saint Barnabas, and Saint Stephen with Saint John. On 1 January 1948 the Christ Church balances were separated from the Saint John's balances and a new ledger was opened for Christ Church, while Saint Stephen's with Saint John continued to use the former Christ Church ledger.

The parish of Christ Church was united with Saint Paul, Rossmore Road (P89/PAU2) in 1971 to form the parish of Christ Church and Saint Paul, St Marylebone. Both churches became parish churches of the new parish until Christ Church was declared redundant in January 1977. The parish was united with Saint Mark with Saint Luke, Marylebone (P89/MRK1) in July 1978 and a team ministry was established. Saint Mark's Church is the parish church of the united parish which is known as the parish of Christ Church, St Marylebone.

Saint James' Chapel was consecrated in 1791 to serve the adjoining burial ground of Saint James', Piccadilly, acting as a proprietary chapel. One of the first people to be buried here was Lord George Gordon, instigator of the Gordon Riots of 1780. In 1852 the graveyard was closed and some of the land became a public garden (St James Garden). After the closure of the burial ground it was sold in 1871 to the Saint Pancras Church Trustees to become the parish church of the new ecclesiastical district of Saint James. It was demolished in 1964 and the parish was united with Saint Pancras (P90/PAN1).

Saint Jude's was designed by Joseph Peacock. It was the first church to be constructed in London using monies from the Bishop of London's Fund. The consecration took place in 1863. The last marriage register was closed in June 1936 on the union of the parish with Holy Cross, Cromer Street. The church was demolished and many of its memorials and fittings were moved to Holy Cross.

From: 'Battle Bridge Estate', Survey of London: volume 24: The parish of St Pancras part 4: King's Cross Neighbourhood (1952), pp. 102-113.

The church of Saint Mary Magdalene, Munster Square was founded by the Reverend Edward Stuart, a curate of Christ Church, Albany Street. Its architect was Richard Cromwell Carpenter (1813-1855) who had previously designed two Brighton churches. Built in the decorated gothic style, it was described by the Ecclesiologist in 1852 as 'the most artistically correct new church yet consecrated in London'. Consecrated on 22 April 1852, and with baptism and marriage registers commencing in that year, it served a small but densely populated area formerly belonging to the parish of Christ Church, Albany Street (P90/CTC2). The two parishes were once again united with the closure of Christ Church in 1989.

Saint Pancras was a parish before the Norman Conquest of 1066. It is said to occupy the site of a Roman Camp, the old church was erected around 1180. It was enlarged and almost rebuilt in 1848 and again restored in 1888. The burial ground has been a place of Christian burial for over 700 years, being at times favoured by Roman Catholics and in particular French exiles, a factor said to be attributable to the church's dedication to the Roman martyr Pancratius.

In 1822 a new parish church was completed in Euston Road, reducing the Old Church to the status of a parish chapel. In 1863 the latter regained its status as the principal church of a new parish. The two parishes are referred to separately as Saint Pancras, Pancras Road (ie the Old Church, but a new parish) and Saint Pancras, Euston Road (ie the new church completed in 1822, but the old parish). Records dated 1660-1822 therefore relate to Saint Pancras Old Church when it was the main parish church of the ancient parish of Saint Pancras. Records of Saint Pancras Old Church dated 1863 onwards refer to the new, smaller and separate parish assigned to this church after that date. See also P90/PAN1.

Saint Peter's originated in the Regent Square Chapel, founded in 1826. A district chapelry was assigned to the church in 1851, and a separate parish was established in 1868. The church, along with the square, was badly damaged during the Second World War. In 1954 the parish was united with Holy Cross, Grays Inn Road.

Holy Trinity was built in 1850, largely through the initiative of the first incumbent, the Rev David Laing. A tablet to him in the south porch states that he devoted the whole of his stipend to in addition to gifts of £4,600 to the building of the church. Two other tablets commemorate members of the Laing and West families of Jamaica. The church was designed by Wyatt and Brandon in the style of the English Gothic of the fourteenth century.

The parish of Saint Andrew, Hoxton, was established in 1863. It was united with the parish of Saint Anne with Saint Saviour on the 12th February 1953; and the church was demolished.

Saint Anne's Church was consecrated on 14 May 1870. In 1953 it became the parish church of the united parish of Saint Anne with Saint Saviour and Saint Andrew, Hoxton. In 1975 it became the parish church of the united parish of Saint Anne with Saint Columba, Hoxton.

Saint Augustine's was constructed in 1866-67 to designs by H. Woodyer. A district had been assigned in 1863. The parish of Saint Augustine was united with Saint Stephen's, Haggerston, in 1953. Saint Augustine's became the parish church of the united benefice.

The church of Saint Chad was constructed in 1868 to designs by James Brook, using a Romanesque style. In 1953 the parish was merged with Saint Mary's, Haggerston. Saint Chad's became the parish church of the new parish.

Holy Trinity was established in 1848 in Church Street (later renamed Trinity Street, then Shepherdess Walk). In 1953 Holy Trinity was united with Saint Mary, Hoxton (the church had been bombed during the Second World War) to form Holy Trinity with Saint Mary.

In 2005 Holy Trinity was in the Deanery of Hackney, under the Area Bishop of Stepney, in the Diocese of London.

The church of All Hallows was constructed in 1880 to 1892, to the designs of George Gilbert Scot junior. It was seriously damaged during the Second World War. Some restorations were carried out in 1956. The church was closed in 1971 and was subsequently let for various uses including a recording studio and offices for a charity. The parish was merged with that of Saint George the Martyr and Saint Jude.

Saint Alphege was constructed in 1880. It was built in one of the poorest areas of Southwark, noted for petty criminals and poverty. The church is now part of the parish of Saint George the Martyr with Saint Alphege and Saint Jude.

Saint George the Martyr is first mentioned in records in 1122 when it was given to Bermondsey Abbey. The church was rebuilt in the fourteenth century and enlarged in 1629. It was rebuilt again in 1734-36. In the Dickens novel, Little Dorrit was baptised and married in this church.

Major restoration work was found to be necessary in the 1930s. Vibration from the underground railway and increasing road traffic combined with inadequate foundations caused the south wall of the church to settle and to develop cracks. This was repaired in 1939 as part of a programme of restoration work brought to a halt by the outbreak of war. Serious damage from enemy action necessitated a major restoration of the church in 1951-1952. While Saint George's church was closed, services were held at Saint Michael's church, Lant Street. Further restoration work took place in the early 1960s.

Saint George's Churchyard was situated on the north side of the church. It was extended in 1817 by trustees appointed under an Act of Parliament for enlarging St George's Churchyard (56 Geo III). The churchyard was closed in the 1850s and laid out as a garden in 1882. In 1905 the London County Council acquired part of the churchyard in order to construct a new road between Tabard Street and Borough High Street. They added other land to the former churchyard in compensation and reopened the restored garden in 1906 (see LCC/CL/CER/3/5(69)).

Saint George the Martyr had acquired an additional burial ground in 1711. This was situated in Kent Street near the Lock Hospital and next to St Saviour's and St Olave's Girls' School. It was extended in 1744 and, after its closure, was laid out as a public garden by the vestry in 1887 (see DROP/101).

During the course of the 19th Century six new parishes for ecclesiastical purposes were created within the ancient parish of Saint George the Martyr. In the south-eastern portion of the parish, Saint Mary Magdalene, Massinger Street was formed in 1843 and Saint Stephen, Manciple Street in 1850. In the western and south western areas, Saint Jude, St George's Road was assigned a parish in 1850, followed by Saint Paul, Westminster Bridge Road in 1858, Saint Michael and All Angels, Lant Street in 1867 and Saint Alphege, Lancaster Street in 1872.

Post war pastoral reorganisation has seen the disappearance of most of these parishes. Saint Michael's was reunited with Saint George the Martyr in 1953, Saint Michael's Church becoming Saint George's Church Halls. Most of Saint Stephen's parish was united with Saint George the Martyr in 1964. Saint Paul amalgamated with Saint Jude. Saint Jude's Church closed in 1976 and the congregation now worship at Saint George's Church.

For further information see The Survey of London Vol. XXV: St George's Fields and St George the Martyr Church, and Southwark: A short history by John Pinder (reference P92/GEO/369).

In 1849 the chapel of the Royal Philanthropic Society's School was purchased to become the Church of Saint Jude, Southwark. It was consecrated in 1850 and a parish was assigned to it from the parish of Saint George the Martyr, Southwark (P92/GEO). Saint Jude's Schools were built adjoining the church in Colnbrook Street.

In 1898 and 1899 Saint Jude's Church was rebuilt on an east - west alignment instead of north - south as formerly. The vestry of the original church was retained and used as an addition to the School.

Saint Jude's Church was declared redundant in 1980. The congregation now worship at the church of Saint George the Martyr, Southwark

The parish of Saint Matthew was created out of parts of the parishes of Saint Mary's (P92/MRY) and Saint Peter's (P92/PET1). The Gothic style church was constructed in 1868. The parish has since been merged with Holy Trinity, Newington (P92/TRI).

Saint Peter's was designed by Sir John Soane and built at a cost of £18,592. The foundation stone was laid on 2 June 1823 and the church was consecrated on 28 February 1825. During the Second World War, tragedy struck Saint Peter's when 84 people sheltering in the undercroft were killed in an air raid. Ironically, the damage to the church itself was not extensive. The church was thus restored by Thomas L. Ford and reopened in 1953.

Saint Peter's was constructed in 1839. The building was badly damaged by bombing during the Second World War. Services were moved to Saint Saviour's, Southwark (P92/SAV), to which the parish was later united.

Holy Trinity was constructed in 1823-24 to designs by F. Bedford. The church was closed in 1960 and then gutted by fire in 1973. It was subsequently converted into use as a recording studio.

On March 27th, 1839, the Mercers Company conveyed the site of three houses in Watney Street to the Church Building Commissioners. The foundation stone of Christ Church was laid on March 11th 1840 and the local firm of G. and J.W. Bridger began the erection of the church. In 1845 two houses in Watney Street were bought and adapted as a vicarage.

Most of the area was a terrible slum. The vicar, William Quekett managed to force the absentee landlord to improve conditions. He also founded the church of Saint Mary Cable Street (P93/MRY3), and built new schools. By the time he left Christ Church in 1854 the parish well established. The story of Quekett's work in the East End was told by Charles Dickens in Household Words (1850 ) under the title ' What a London Curate can do if he tries'.

The church and vicarage were damaged by enemy action in 1941 and the congregation had to share the church of Saint George in the East (P93/GEO). The ruins of the building were destroyed.

There has been a church on the site since at least the tenth century, when the original Saxon church was rebuilt by order of Dunstan, the Bishop of London, who was canonised in 1029. The church was renamed after him. The present church dates mostly to an enlargement and restoration carried out in the fifteenth century. The church was the only one in Stepney for many years, until a whitewashed chapel was constructed at Whitechapel in the thirteenth century, after which many more churches were built in the area and the parish of Saint Dunstan decreased in size.

Saint John's was constructed in 1853. The church was bombed in 1940 and services held for a time in Saint Luke, Burdett Road (P93/LUK). In 1948 a small temporary church was built on the site of Saint John's, dedicated to Saint Matthew and Saint John, to serve the parishes of Saint John's and Saint Matthew, Salmon Lane (P93/MTW2). The name was changed in 1951 to Saint John and Saint Matthew. It is advisable to consult the records of the two parishes in conjunction for the post-1945 period. In 1956 the united parish was abolished and was divided between Saint Dunstan with All Saints (P93/DUN) and Saint Anne's (P93/ANN).