The church of Saint Mark was built between 1826 and 1828 by William Chadwell Mylne, surveyor to the New River Company, in the centre of the Company's new residential estate. It was intended as a chapel of ease for Saint James, Clerkenwell. It is in mixed Gothic style with a 90 foot high west tower, and a traceried and pinnacled porch. The New River Company stipulated that the surrounding enclosure should not be 'appropriated as a cemetery'. The church suffered serious war damage but was later restored.
The church of Saint Mary, Golden Lane, Charterhouse, Islington, was founded in 1858. A parish was assigned from the church of Saint Luke, Old Street. The parishes were merged in 1952.
It is not known exactly when the first parish church in Fulham was established but it was probably in the mid-thirteenth century. A church on the existing site was dedicated to All Saints in 1445 however with the notable exception of the fifteenth-century tower the present church is from 1881 and was built to designs by Sir Arthur Blomfield.
Fulham and Hammersmith constituted a single parish right up until 1834. Throughout its history the parish was closely associated with the Bishops of London and with the manor of Fulham over which they had jurisdiction. Several are buried in the churchyard which was closed for general burials in 1863. Two chapels-of-ease were established for the parishioners - Saint Paul Hammersmith in 1631 and Saint Mary North End in 1814. The church still has an active congregation. Current information is available at www.allsaints-fulham.org.uk.
The church of Saint Mary, West Kensington, is situated on corner of Hammersmith Road and Edith Road, W14. It was established as a chapel of ease in 1813 and became a separate parish church in 1835. The church suffered bomb damage during the Second World War but was rebuilt.
The parish of Saint Oswald was formed in 1899, following the success of a mission to the area which was founded in 1884. The church was demolished in 1974 and the parish united with that of Saint Augustine, Lillie Road.
The parish of Saint Paul was created in 1864, taken from part of the parish of Saint Alphege, Greenwich. The church was constructed between 1865 and 1866. It was closed in 1984 and is now used by a Seventh-Day Adventist congregation.
The parish of Saint Peter was formed in 1867, taken from part of the parish of Saint Paul's, Greenwich. The church was constructed a year later. During the Second World War it was damaged by enemy bombing. The parish was merged with Saint Alphege in 1951 and the building was demolished in 1955.
The parish of Holy Trinity, Blackheath Hill, was formed in 1849 from part of the parish of Saint Alphege, Greenwich. The church was constructed in 1839 but has now been demolished.
A mission financed by Eton College was originally founded in Malford Street over an undertaker's shop. In 1884 an iron church was erected, and in 1892 a new church was built to the designs of E.F. Bodley, with funds provided by Eton college. In 1893 the mission becamea parish, comprising the parishes of Saint Augustine and Saint Barnabas. The church was enlarged and a tower added in 1911-1912.
Eton House was built in a Tudor style to accommodate clerical and lay staff and visiting Etonians. The church was badly damaged by a V1 rocket in 1944. In 1953 the parish was united with Saint Augustine, Victoria Park. The patronage still rests with Eton mission trustees.
The district of Saint Matthew Upper Clapton was constituted on 19 May 1866 and a temporary Iron Church was opened on 1 August 1866. The foundation stone of the permanent church was laid on 21 September 1867, and the church, the architect of which was Francis Dollman, was consecrated on 5 April 1869. This church, which was situated in Warwick Grove, was declared redundant in January 1977 after being badly damaged by fire and the Church Hall next door, which opens into Mount Pleasant Lane, was converted into a church. In 1972 the parish entered into a group ministry with Saint Thomas, Clapton Common (P79/MTW) and Saint Michael and All Angels, Stoke Newington Common (P94/MAA). After the fire of 1977 the parish became a plurality with Saint Thomas Clapton Common, keeping its own Parochial Church Council and registers but sharing a vicar. Then in 1983 a priest-in-charge was appointed to the parish.
There were two mission chapels in the parish: Holy Trinity Chapel, Lea Bridge, built in 1877 and the Mission of the Good Shepherd, High Hill Ferry built circa 1879.
Saint Paul's was originally a temporary church erected in 1885 within the parish of Saint Barnabas Homerton. The permanent church was built in 1890-91 to the design of Henry Cowell Boys and Saint Paul's became a separate parish. The parish was reunited with that of Saint Barnabas in 1981 and Saint Paul's Church was declared redundant.
The parish of Saint Mary, Stamford Brook, was created from part of the parish of Saint Luke, Uxbridge Road, in 1888. The church was built in 1886. It was closed in 1982 on union with the parish of Saint Saviour, Cobbold Road. The church building was converted for residential use.
The parish of Saint Stephen was created in 1850 and the church building was constructed at the same date.In 1963 the parish was united with that of Saint Thomas, Godolphin Road, Hammersmith.
In the 1840s the Hampstead parish church, Saint Paul's, began to hold services in the West End National School. In 1875 these services became part of Trinity Parish Mission Church, later called Emmanuel Church. A district was assigned to the church in 1885. Increased attendance led to the construction of a permanent church in 1897, designed by J.A.Thomas.
From: A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 9: Hampstead, Paddington (1989), pp. 145-152.
The Church of St Mary the Virgin, Primrose Hill was opened on 28 April 1867 and the first surviving register dates from October 1868.
In the summer of 1870 arrangements were being made for the construction of a new church. Money was raised by voluntary subscriptions, aided by Eton College, the London Diocesan Church Building Society and the Church Extension Society. The site, on the junction of King Henry's Road, Primrose Hill Road and Elsworthy Road, was owned by Eton College but an agreement was reached whereby the site and church would be conveyed to the Church Commissioners when completed. The church was erected in 1872 and consecrated on 2 May 1885. On 28 August 1885 the church was assisgned its own district: previously it had fallen within the parish of St Saviour, South Hampstead.
During the construction of the church, the London and North Western Railway Company began tunnelling work under the north west corner of the church, causing damage to the building. The subsequent dispute generated much correspondence.
In August 1856 the parish of St Mary the Virgin, Primrose Hill was united with the parish of St Paul, Avenue Road. The Church of St Mary the Virgin became the parish church of the united parish.
The church of Saint Peter was constructed in 1859 to designs by W. Mumford. A district was assigned to the church in 1861 from the parish of Saint John's. The patron was the dean and chapter of Westminster, who endowed the parish with annual monies and gave a site for the building. Extensive repairs were carried out in 1917, and the church was extended in 1927.
From: A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 9: Hampstead, Paddington (1989), pp. 145-152.
Saint Andrew Holborn is an ancient foundation. It is probably the church of Saint Andrew mentioned in a 951 charter of King Edgar. The church was not destroyed by the Great Fire, but was rebuilt by Wren in 1684. It was the largest of his parish churches. In 1827 Doctor William Marsden found a young girl dying of exposure in the churchyard. The incident spurred him to create the Royal Free Hospital where the poor could seek treatment. Part of the churchyard was lost when the Holborn Viaduct was constructed in 1863-1869. The church building was restored in 1872 by S.S. Teulon. The church was bombed in the Second World War, but was rebuilt following its original form in 1960-1961. The parish has been united with Saint Bride's, Fleet Street.
The parish of Saint George, Bloomsbury, was formed in the early 18th century as respectable Bloomsbury residents complained at having to pass through the notorious slum area known as 'The Rookery' to reach the parish church of Saint Giles in the Fields. The Commissioners of the Fifty New Churches Act of 1711 agreed to fund a new church and Nicholas Hawksmoor was engaged to design the building. The church was completed in 1731. The stepped pyramid steeple was inspired by Pliny's description of the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus: it used to have lions and unicorns at the base, while the statue on top is King George I in Roman dress. More recently the parish has united with St John the Evangelist, Red Lion Square.
The church of Saint Peter, Saffron Hill, was constructed between 1830 and 1832, designed by Charles Barry. In 1952 the parish was united with Saint Alban's, Holborn.
The church of Holy Trinity on Grays Inn Road was designed by Sir James Pennethorne and erected in 1837. It seated 1500 people. Restored in 1880, it reopened in 1881. It was closed during the 1914-1918 war but was in use again by 1921; before finally closing in 1928. Holy Trinity parish was created from the parish of Saint Andrew, Holborn in 1839. The parish and benefice were united with Saint George the Martyr, Queen Square in 1931. Holy Trinity church was closed with the intention of demolishing the church and selling the site.
The church of All Saints, Caledonian Road, was constructed in 1837 to 1838, designed by William Tress. It seated 1,116 although this was later expanded to 1,150. A district was assigned to the church in 1839, formed from part of the parish of Holy Trinity. The vicar of Holy Trinity was patron. The parish of All Saints later decreased in size as parts of it were assigned to Saint Andrews, Thornhill Square and Saint Silas, Penton Street, Clerkenwell. The parish was joined to Saint Silas in 1972, however, services were held in the church hall under the vicar of Saint Andrew's. In 1975 the church was destroyed by fire and demolished. The church ran various missions including All Saints Mission Church, White Lion Street (see P76/ALL); Saint John the Evangelist Mission, Copenhagen Street; All Saint's Mission, Thornhill Bridge Place; and the Crinan Street Mission.
From: 'Islington: Churches', A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 8: Islington and Stoke Newington parishes (1985), pp. 88-99.
This area of Islington was given a temporary brick church in Archway Road in 1886 which was subsequently used as the parish hall. The architect of the permanent church was Frederic Hammond. This was his only church. The foundation stone was laid on 11 July 1894, and the church was dedicated on 16 February 1895. It was consecrated on 27 April 1897, and assigned a district on 13 October 1897.
Christ Church, Highbury Grove, was consecrated on 12 October 1848, following discussions by local residents from 1846 onwards. The parish was formed in 1849 from part of Islington parish. Parts of it were later assigned to Saint Augustine, Highbury, and Saint John, Highbury. The church was constructed in 1847, designed by Thomas Allom in the Decorated style, following an usual floor plan with a central octagon. The parish was united with Saint John, Highbury, in 1979 and with Saint Saviour, Aberdeen Park, in 1981.
A combined chapel and school opened in 1836 was taken over by Christ Church which handed it over as a girls' school and boys' school to Saint John, Highbury Park, in 1883.
From: 'Islington: Churches', A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 8: Islington and Stoke Newington parishes (1985), pp. 88-99.
A mission church was founded in Hornsey Road in 1881. In 1884 this was replaced with a permanent church building in the Early English Style, designed by Farrow and Harris. A parish was assigned in 1886, taken from parts of the parishes of Saint Mark, Tollington Park; Saint Paul, Upper Holloway and Saint Luke, West Holloway.
From: 'Islington: Churches', A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 8: Islington and Stoke Newington parishes (1985), pp. 88-99.
The church of Saint John the Baptist was constructed between 1871 and 1872, designed by William Wigginton. A parish was assigned in 1873. The building was damaged by enemy action in 1940 and services were moved to the church hall. The church was declared redundant in 1971 and was demolished in 1981.
From: 'Islington: Churches', A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 8: Islington and Stoke Newington parishes (1985), pp. 88-99.
The parish of Saint James was established in 1839 with the name Saint James the Apostle. The name was changed to Saint James in 1846. The church was constructed in 1837 in a neo-classical style, situated on Victoria Road (now Chillingworth Road). The building was damaged in 1944 by enemy action, and restored as a parish hall built inside the old church; the derelict roof remains. The parish united with Saint Mary Magdalene's in 1954.
From: 'Islington: Churches', A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 8: Islington and Stoke Newington parishes (1985), pp. 88-99.
Saint James the Apostle was founded by the City of London Clothworkers' Company, as a replacement for Lambe's chapel on Wood Street Square. A parish was formed in 1875 taken from parts of the parishes of Saint Peter and Saint Philip. The Clothworkers' Company were patrons. The church building was constructed between 1873 and 1875, designed by F.W. Porter. A statue of Lambe from the old chapel was placed in a niche over the door, and 4 Flemish roundels dating to 1577 were also incorporated.
From: 'Islington: Churches', A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 8: Islington and Stoke Newington parishes (1985), pp. 88-99.
The church of Saint Luke was established by the Islington Church Extension Society in 1855. At first a wooden church was used, which was replaced by a stone church in 1860. A parish was assigned in 1861 although in 1869 it was reduced in size. Part of the church was destroyed by enemy action in 1941 although it was repaired by 1956. A new building was constructed in 1961.
From: 'Islington: Churches', A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 8: Islington and Stoke Newington parishes (1985), pp. 88-99.
The church of Saint Michael began as temporary services held in a boy's school in Bingfield Street from 1853. A permanent church was constructed in 1863-64, and a parish was assigned in 1864. The church was united with Saint Andrew, Thornhill Square, in 1977 and Saint Andrew's became the parish church. Saint Michael's church building was closed.
From: 'Islington: Churches', A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 8: Islington and Stoke Newington parishes (1985), pp. 88-99.
Saint Matthias' Church was built as a chapel of ease to Saint Luke, West Holloway in 1868. It became a district parish in 1886 and was consecrated on 14 January 1886. In 1956 the parish was united with Saint Andrew, Thornhill Square and Saint Matthias became a chapel of ease to Saint Andrew's.
Saint Paul's was constructed in 1870 and a parish was assigned in the same year. The church was damaged by enemy action in September 1940 and services were subsequently held at Saint Mark's Tollington Park and in Saint Paul's Parish Hall. The parish was united with Saint Saviour's, Stroud Green in 1953. The church building was demolished.
Saint Peter's Church was originally known as Saint Peter's Highgate Hill. The church was opened on 15 November 1874 and a parish was created out of the parish of Saint John, Upper Holloway in December 1880. In 1978 Saint Peter's was united with Saint John's to become the parish of Saint Peter with Saint John, Upper Holloway.
The parish of Saint Peter was established in 1839, and enlarged in 1858. The church was built in 1834-35, designed by Charles Barry. The parish merged with Saint James, Prebend Street in 1982 and the church was closed.
From: 'Islington: Churches', A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 8: Islington and Stoke Newington parishes (1985), pp. 88-99.
The church of Saint Saviour in Hanley Road, Tollington Park, was constructed in 1887-1890 to designs by J.P.Cutts. A parish was assigned to the church in 1888, taken from parts of the parishes of Saint mark, Tollington Park and Saint Mary, Hornsey Rise. The church was united with Saint Paul, Kingsdown Road, Upper Holloway in 1953.
From: 'Islington: Churches', A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 8: Islington and Stoke Newington parishes (1985), pp. 88-99.
The church of Saint Stephen was constructed between 1837 and 1839, to designs by W. and H. W. Inwood and E. N. Clifton. A parish was assigned in 1839. The building suffered bomb damage in 1940, but was reconstructed by 1957. The parish was united with Saint Bartholomew's in 1939 and with Saint Matthew's in 1953.
From: 'Islington: Churches', A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 8: Islington and Stoke Newington parishes (1985), pp. 88-99.
The church of Saint Philip and Saint Andrew, Kensal Green, was erected in 1869-1870; a large part of the building cost of £12,000 had been contributed by an "anonymous" Christian lady from Bayswater. The architect was E. Bassett Keeling and consecration took place on 8th January 1870. It was built in the 'Early Gothic and Italian' style of red brick with Bath stone mouldings, a cruciform plan and consisted of nave, aisles, transepts and chancel with a belfry at the south east end. The church was admired by writers and critics of the day and it was described as 'restrained', 'admirably adapted for light and sound' and the plain but variously stained glass windows were said to have 'contributed to the beautiful effect of the whole structure'.
In 1825 the Vestry of Kensington decided to build a new church in Brompton and a new chapel in the western part of Kensington. Saint Barnabas' was consecrated in 1829 and designated a chapel of ease to Saint Mary Abbots. In 1842 a district chapelry was assigned to it and this became a parish in 1856.
The church of Saint John the Evangelist was designed by Stevens and Alexander to accommodate a congregation of 1500. As too much stone and brick were ordered, the vicarage and adjoining houses were built using the extra stone and numbers 3-4 Ladbroke Mount (now Crescent) were built with the extra brick. At first the church stood alone 'in the hayfields'. It was consecrated on 29 January 1845. It was described in the "Survey of London" as the centrepiece of the Ladbroke Estate.
Saint Jude's was one of three churches designed by George and Henry Godwin and built on the Gunter Estate. Usually a new church was the culmination of a building development but Saint Jude preceded the houses. Some members of Anglican Low Church were dismayed by the spread of ritualistic services in the new parishes and determined to build their own church in Courtfield Gardens. It was funded largely by John Derby Allcroft, a glove manufacturer. The church was described in a survey of religious buildings in the 1870's as standing out 'boldly, treeless and alone, it has within three months collected one of the largest congregations around London'. The original plain interior was embellished by Clayton and Bell stained glass windows, Minton and majolica tiling and an alabaster and marble reredos and pulpit. Much of it was lost by bombing in 1940 but restored to its original state. In 2006, Saint Jude merged with Saint Mary the Boltons.
The Church of Saint Michael and All Angels, Ladbroke Grove, was designed by Mr. John Dewdney Cowland in a 'Rhineland Romanesque' style and built of brick with terracotta, red Mansfield and Forest of Dean stone dressings, seating 900, 200 of which were free. It was consecrated on 17 May 1871.
Saint Stephen's Church was built within a year in 1866-1867 and consecrated on 10th January 1867. It was designed by Joseph Peacock. A temporary church on the east side of Gloucester Road had opened in early 1866. The church became 'higher' after the 1870's and by 1900 was firmly Anglo-Catholic in character and was remodelled in the early 1900's to reflect this. Poet TS Eliot served as churchwarden at Saint Stephen's for twenty-five years. The church has a memorial plaque to him.
The original church of Saint Thomas was built in 1889 to the designs of Demaine and Brierley of York. The site was purchased by trustees of the Bishop of London's Church Building Fund for £800 and a large of part of the building's expenses was paid for from funds which had accrued from the amalgamation in 1886 of the benefice of Saint Thomas in the Liberty of the Rolls and that of Saint Dunstan's in the West.
During World War Two the church was severely damaged by enemy action. In 1951 the benefice was united with that of Saint Andrew and Saint Philip Goldborne Road and in 1967 Saint Thomas's was completely rebuilt to the designs of Romilly B. Craze.
The church of All Saints, West Dulwich, was built between 1888 and 1897; an important example of the work of architect G H Fellowes Prynne. The foundation stone was laid in 1888, and on 31 October 1891 the church was opened. In 2000 the church was gutted by fire, leaving only the Victorian walls standing. All Saints was reopened in 2006.
The parish of Saint Andrew, Lambeth, was formed in 1846. The original church building in Coin Street was destroyed by enemy action during the Second World War. In 1958 a replacement church was built in Short Street. The benefice was united with that of Saint Thomas, Westminster Bridge Road, Lambeth, in November 1956. Saint Andrew's parish was then united with the parish of Saint John the Evangelist, Waterloo Road, to become the parish of Waterloo, Saint John with Saint Andrew, on 1 May 1983.
The area of Gipsy Hill began to expand rapidly in the 1860s, and a temporary iron church built in 1862 soon became filled to capacity. A larger, permanent building was constructed by 1867, designed by John Giles in a Gothic style. Saint Jude's Mission Church was established in 1880. A tower was added in 1889. The church was rebuilt in 1987 after a fire destroyed the original church, leaving the tower fabric largely untouched.
Originally built in 1820 as a Congregationalist chapel called Holland Chapel, the building which was to become Christ Church, North Brixton was taken over as a proprietary chapel by the Reverend F. Crossman. It became a Chapel of Ease to Saint Mark's Church, Kennington and when in 1855 Canon McConnell Hussey became its minister, he converted the leasehold land to freehold. He also arranged to have the district formed into a separate parish and to have the church consecrated, reseated and enlarged by the addition of an apse at his own expense. The church was consecrated on 9 October 1855. In 1891 the Reverend W. R. Mowll was appointed. He was responsible for the building of a parish hall and the rebuilding of the old church which, delapidated beyond repair, was closed in 1899 and demolished. The new church was consecrated by the Bishop of Rochester on 5 December 1902.
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.
Saint Matthew's Church was consecrated on 15 July 1848 and a district assigned to it from the parishes of Saint Mark, Kennington, Saint Matthew, Brixton and Saint Giles, Camberwell. It took over the building of the Denmark Hill Chapel which was erected as a proprietary chapel in 1793 close to the village of Camberwell.
On the night of 26 September 1940 the church was destroyed by bombing. Marriages were solemnized in the parish church of Saint Giles, Camberwell, and services were held in King's College Hospital Chapel until June 1941 when a temporary church was set up in the house next door to St Matthew's, number 142 Denmark Hill. In November 1956 the parish was united with Saint Saviour, Herne Hill Road, Saint Saviour's becoming the parish church of the united parish. A new Saint Matthew's Church was built on a site in Lilford Road and was dedicated on 17 May 1961 as a chapel of ease to Saint Saviour's.
Following the bombing, the contents of the church safe were intact, but all other parish records in the church, including the non-current parish registers, were destroyed. For marriage entries before May 1938, the Superintendent Registrar of Lambeth holds a duplicate series of marriage registers. For baptism entries before April 1930, the only surviving record consists of the extracts from the parish registers printed in the parish magazine, copies of which are deposited here for the years 1893-1904, 1909-1914, 1916-1939, reference P85/MTW2/34-64.
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 Holy Trinity was constructed in 1839, designed by Edward Blore. The site of the church was formerly part of Lambeth Palace kitchen gardens. The interior of the church was renovated in 1915. THe building was badly damaged during the Second World War.
From: Survey of London: volume 23: Lambeth: South Bank and Vauxhall (1951), pp. 75-76.