Holy Trinity was constructed in 1855-1856 in order to serve a newly-completed housing estate in Tulse Hill. It was designed by T.D. Barry. A district was assigned in 1856.
Saint Matthias church was built in 1894, while a district chapelry was assigned in 1899. It replaced a temporary iron church.
The two parishes have now merged to form the parish of Holy Trinity and Saint Matthias, based at Holy Trinity.
From: Survey of London: volume 26: Lambeth: Southern area (1956), pp. 139-140.
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.
Christ Church, Church Rise, Forest Hill was consecrated in 1854. The site had been given by the Earl of Dartmouth, lord of the manor and patron, who wanted an imposing centre piece for his Dartmouth Park estate. The estate was planned in the 1840s, but largely built in the 1850s. The foundation stone of the church was laid in 1852 although the spire was not completed until 1885. Ewan Christian was the architect.
In the 1980s, a partnership was formed with Saint Paul, Forest Hill and on 1 December 1991 the benefice and parish of Saint Paul was removed by Order in Council and Christ Church with Saint Paul, Forest Hill was created. In 2003 the parish was due to be united with Saint George, Woolstone Road, Perry Hill.
List of vicars (1854-1965):
John Michell Clarke 1854
Thomas D Morse 1878
Gustavus Jones 1882
Charles R Bailey 1901
Victor C A Fitzhugh 1920
S Gordon Hooper 1926
Arnold F Judd 1933
D H Bryant Bevan 1937
R Paul Wernham 1946
C W Mortimer-Lamb 1965
In 1972, the Vicarage was at Sunderland Road, Forest Hill.
In 2003 the parish was under the following: Patron: Bishop of Southwark and the Earl of Dartmouth Deanery: West Lewisham Archdeaconry: Lewisham Episcopal Area: Woolwich Diocese: Southwark (from 1905).
The original church of Saint Paul was built between 1882 and 1883 by Herbert D Appleton and Edward Mountford at Waldenshaw Road, Forest Hill. The church was bombed in the Second World War (1939-1945) and was demolished.
A former Congregational Church in Taymount Rise, Forest Hill (built in 1863 by J Hine of Plymouth and T Roger Smith, and which by 1940s had become Saint Luke's Church of the Spiritual Evangel) was purchased and consecrated on 24 January 1965 as the new Saint Paul's Church.
In the 1980s, a partnership was formed with Christ Church, Forest Hill and on 1 December 1991 the benefice and parish of Saint Paul was removed by Order in Council and Christ Church with Saint Paul, Forest Hill was created. The church building was declared redundant and sold for residential use in 1996.
The church of Saint Luke the Evangelist was constructed in 1876-77 and a parish was assigned in 1877. The church was bombed in 1940, and the congregation moved to a temporary chapel and subsequently to Saint Simon's, Saltram Crescent (P87/SIM). Baptisms and marriages from the parish of Saint Luke's continued however to be recorded in Saint Luke's registers. A new church was built on the site of the former Saint Luke's in the late 1950's and opened under the same name.
In 1952 the parishes of Saint Luke, Saint Simon and Saint Jude (P87/JUD) were united and the congregation continued to use Saint Simon's; which in September 1959 was redesignated as the parish church of Saint Luke the Evangelist with Saint Simon and Saint Jude.
Bayswater Chapel was constructed in 1818, designed by T Cooper. It was renamed Saint Matthew's in 1858, and the building was altered in the same year. In 1881-82 a new, larger building was constructed that could seat 350 more people.
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.
Saint Stephen's church was consecrated in April 1856. Saint Stephen's National Schools were opened before 1883 and were administered as a 'Non-provided School' (Council number 0247) by the London County Council from 1904. In 1947 Saint Stephen was joined with Saint Luke, Tavistock Road, Westbourne Park (P87/LUK2).
The Poplar Chapel or East India Chapel, a chapel of ease to Saint Dunstan, Stepney, was founded by the East India Company. In 1823 a new church, All Saints, built to the east of the old chapel, became a parish church for Poplar. The records of the chapel were transferred to the new church. The chapel with its burial ground remained in use and in 1867 it was made the parish church of a new parish, Saint Matthias (P88/MTS).
In July 1952 All Hallows, East India Docks (P88/ALH1) and Saint Frideswide, Follett Street (P88/FRD) were united with All Saints, and registers and records after this date relate to the united benefice. In September 1964 All Saints became part of the South Poplar Area Ministry.
The church of Saint Nicholas was established in 1900. It was destroyed by enemy action in 1940 and closed in 1941. The parish was united with All Hallows in 1955, to create the parish of Saint Nicholas with All Hallows, Aberfeldy Street.
Saint Peter's was constructed in 1882-84. The church originated in a mission established by 1864 within part of the parish of All Saints, Poplar (P88/ALL1) which served both the parish of All Saints and part of Saint Anne's Limehouse (P93/ANN). The permanent church building was funded using money from the sale of Saint Martin Outwich, City of London (P69/MTN3). The architect was Ewan Christian. The church was closed in 1971 and demolished. The parish was united with Saint Anne's, Limehouse.
From: Survey of London: volumes 43 and 44: Poplar, Blackwall and Isle of Dogs (1994), pp. 397-406.
Saint Stephen's, Tredegar Road, Bow, was constructed in 1858. The church was destroyed by bombing during the Second World War and the parish was united with the parish of Saint Paul, Old Ford (P88/PAU) in July 1961. The church of Saint Paul became the parish church of the united parish.
In 1974 All Saints' Church was closed and the Vicar of Saint John's Wood was appointed Priest-in-Charge of All Saints' parish. The parish was united with the parish of Saint John's Wood (P89/JN1) in 1976, except for the parts of the former parish lying to the west of Wellington Road and Finchley Road which were transferred to the parishes of Saint Mark, Hamilton Terrace, Saint Marylebone (P89/MRK2) and All Souls, Loudoun Road, South Hampstead.
In 1822 to 1824 architect John Nash rebuilt the area around Regent's Park and Regent Street. He wished to continue Regent Street to the north but was unable to buy up the land and was forced to turn the street westwards. All Souls was constructed as a finishing feature standing at the end of Regent Street, where it turns into Portland Place. The church has an unusual design, combining a classical Greek style peristyle (porch with columns) and a Gothic spire. Nash was ridiculed for the idea by contemporaries. The church was damaged by bombing in the Second World War but was restored in 1957. The parish has been united with Saint Peter, Vere Street (P89/PET), Saint John the Evangelist, Fitzroy Square and others.
Information from The London Encyclopaedia, eds. Weinreb and Hibbert (LMA Library Reference 67.2 WEI).
Saint Mark's was constructed in 1871-72, designed by Sir Arthur William Blomfield. In 1952 the parish was united with Saint Luke, Nutford Place (P89/LUK). The church was closed in 1980.
The church of Saint Mark was consecrated in June 1847, constructed to meet the need of an expanding population in this area. The architect was Thomas Cundy. A parish school was opened in 1864 and rebuilt in 1873. The church was damaged by enemy action in 1941 and 1944. The damage was repaired by 1955.
For a detailed history see the church website at http://www.stmarks.me.uk/ (URL correct May 2010).
The first parish church in the area was dedicated to Saint John the Evangelist and was probably built in the 12th century, situated near the site of the present Marble Arch. However it was too remote and was moved in 1400. The new church was dedicated to Saint Mary and was known as "Saint Mary at Bourne" as the Ty bourne (stream) flowed nearby, which over time became corrupted to "St Mary le Bone". A new church was built in 1740 and another in 1813, which was renovated in 1883.
In 1817 the church was built over a large vaulted crypt. This served as the parish burial ground until 1853 when the entrance was bricked up and its use discontinued. In 1980 the coffins from the crypt were reinterred at Brookwood Cemetery in Surrey. The crypt was then completely renovated and rebuilt as a health centre. Nicki and John Braithwaite were the architects for this redevelopment. On 24th July 1987, the new crypt was opened by the Prince of Wales.
When opened, the crypt contained the following organisations: Christian Healing Centre; NHS Surgery; Headquarter Offices of the Christian Healing Organisations (Churches Council for Health and Healing; Guild of St Raphael; Order of St Luke; Institute of Religion and Medicine; Churches Council on Alcohol and Drugs); Music Therapy Centre (funded by the Speedwell Trust Sponsorship Scheme); Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Scanner Unit; Counselling and Social Work Services of the Raphael Centre and Jewish Welfare Board.
For more information please see the church website at http://www.stmarylebone.org.uk/history01.htm (accessed March 2010).
Saint Paul's Church was built by voluntary contributions as Saint Paul's Chapel in 1837-1838 soon after the closure of the Bentinck Chapel in Lisson Street. It was consecrated in 1838 and was assigned a district. The solemnization of baptisms was authorised in 1838 and that of marriages in 1860.
After the Second World War, Saint Paul's parish was united with Emmanuel, Maida Hill (P89/EMM), and Saint Matthew, Maida Hill (P89/MTW), to form the parish of Saint Paul with Saint Matthew and Emmanuel. In 1971 the parish was united with Christ Church, Cosway Street (P89/CTC). Saint Paul's Church became one of the parish churches of the parish of Christ Church and Saint Paul, St Marylebone, until it was closed in September 1977.
The Portman Chapel was constructed in 1779 as a chapel serving the Portman Estate, newly laid out in this area. The chapel fell within the parish of Saint Marylebone. In December 1831 the church became the parish church of Saint Paul. In 1870 the church was rebuilt and expanded. In 1901 it was reconsecrated as the parish church of Saint Paul, Portman Square. After the Second World War the population of the area decreased and the parish was united to All Souls' Langham Place (P89/ALS). The church was closed and demolished in 1972. It was replaced by Saint Paul's, Robert Adam Street, which was consecrated in 1970.
The chapel should not be confused with the Portland Chapel, Great Portland Street, which was also renamed Saint Paul's (P89/PAU1).
The parish of Holy Trinity was created from the parish of Saint Marylebone, Marylebone Road. Sir John Soane R.A. was the architect of this church, built in 1826-1827 in a Grecian architectural style. It was consecrated 31 May 1828. Having fallen into disuse by the 1930s it became a store in 1936 for Penguin Books. Penguin moved out in 1937 and the church was adapted as the headquarters of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge [SPCK] where they remained until 2006. The church stands on a traffic island with Marylebone Road to the front and Albany Street and Osnaburgh Street to the sides.
Originally Camden Chapel built in 1824 by W and H Inwood (father and son) who had recently completed Saint Pancras New Church on Euston Road, Camden. The church, which was later called Saint Stephen's and from about 1920 All Saints, has served the Greek community since 1948. The first minister at the church was son of the writer Madame d'Arblay, better know as the novelist Fanny Burney.
Christ Church, Albany Street, consecrated 13 July 1837, was the first church to be built under Bishop Blomfield's church extension scheme. It was designed by James Pennethorne but altered and decorated in 1867 by William Butterfield. The first incumbent, William Dodsworth (1798-1861), resigned in 1851 to join the Roman Catholic church. Amongst the well-known names associated with 'the new church near Regent's Park' was that of the Rosetti family, Christina Rosetti being presented there for confirmation in 1845. The baptism registers commence in 1837 and the marriage registers in 1846. Christ Church was closed in 1989, the parish being united with that of Saint Mary Magdalene, Munster Square (P90/MMG). It is now used by a branch of the Orthodox church.
Saint Mary the Virgin was built between 1822-1826 by the Inwoods, architects of the nearby Saint Pancras Parish Church. It was at first known as the Somers Town Chapel. Charles Dickens worshipped here as a boy. The chapel was nicknamed first 'Mr Judkin's Chapel' after the Rev T J Judkin, then 'the Cabbies' Church' because of the aid offered to cabmen using the nearby Euston Station.
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 Paul's was built between 1847-1849 on ground given by the Marquess of Camden. The architects were F.W. Ordish and J. Johnson. It was a large-aisled church in stone with transepts and a tall western tower and spire, all in the decorated style. Owing to bomb damage sustained during the Second World War it was demolished in 1949, with the exception of the tower, spire and parish hall. A hall was built in the 1970s to act as both church and parish hall.
The parish of Saint Agatha was formed in 1872. It was merged with the parish of Saint James, Shoreditch, in 1915.
In 1937 the parish of Saint James, Shoreditch, was merged with the parish of Saint Michael, Mark Street, Shoreditch, and the church was demolished. The Shakespeare memorial window was transferred to Saint Leonard's, Shoreditch, but was later destroyed in the Second World War.
Saint Michael's was constructed in 1863-65 to designs by James Brooks. It closed in 1964, when the parish was united with Saint Leonard's.
Saint Mary, Hoxton was created in 1866 out of parts of the parishes of Saint John, Hoxton and Holy Trinity, Hoxton, and Saint Barnabas, King's Square. The church was in Britannia Street (later Britannia Walk) and the vicarage was in Provost Street. In 1953 Saint Mary was united with Holy Trinity, Hoxton (the church had been bombed during the Second World War) to form Holy Trinity with Saint Mary.
In 1903 Saint Mary was in the Rural Deanery of Shoreditch, in the Archdeaconry of London, in the Diocese of London.
Saint Paul's was consecrated in 1860. In 1971 the benefice and parish were united with St. Michael and All Angels, London Fields, Hackney (P79/MAA) which became the parish church of the united parish.
Saint Peter's, Hoxton Square, was established in 1869. The benefice was united with Saint Leonard, Shoreditch, in August 1937 and the church was demolished.
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 John the Evangelist was built between 1859 and 1860. The architect was Henry Jarvis. The parish is part of the Deanery of Southwark and Newington; the Archdeaconry of Southwark and the Episcopal Area of Woolwich.
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.
The hamlet of Mile End New Town remained part of the parish of Saint Dunstan's, Stepney (P93/DUN), until 1841, when it was created a district chapelry of Saint Dunstan's, with its own church of All Saints. The church was built on what was then Spicer Street. It was built under the auspices of the Church Building Commission with some funding from the Metropolitan Church Fund.The architect was Thomas Larkins Waller. It was consecrated on 25th November 1839. The spire had to be removed in 1894, as the result of deterioration in the stonework, but the church suffered only superficial damage during the Second World War. In 1951 the parish was joined to Christ Church, Spitalfields, and the church of All Saints was subsequently demolished. After closure, the vicarage and church hall were transferred to the use of Christ Church, Spitalfields (P93/CTC1).
The church of Saint Anthony stood in the borough of Bethnal Green, but was part of the rural deanery of Stepney. The church was funded by the sale of the building and site of All Halllows Staining in the City of London (P69/ALH6). The church was designed by Ewan Christian and consecrated in July 1879. A small parish was created in December 1859. The parish was united with Saint Simon Zealotes, Bethnal Green in 1936. The building was demolished in 1937.
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.
Under the Union of Beneficiaries Act of 1860, the City church of St Martin Outwich (P69/MTN3) was closed, demolished and the site sold. From the proceeds, three new churches were built, including Christ Church. All were designed by Ewan Christian. The church was consecrated on 3rd January 1877. During the Second World War the church was damaged and closed. The remains were later cleared away. The parish was divided between Saint Augustine with Saint Philip (P93/AUG) and Saint Dunstan and All Saints with Saint Thomas and Saint Faith (P93/DUN).
The church of Saint John of Wapping was constructed in 1617 as a chapel of ease to Saint Mary, Whitechapel (P93/MRY1). It was assigned a separate parish in 1694. The building was replaced in 1756-60 on a site opposite the old church. Most of the building was destroyed during the Second World War; however, the tower survived and was restored. The parish was united with Saint Peter, London Docks (P93/PET2).
The church of Saint Jude was established in 1848. The inspirational clergyman Samuel Augustus Barnett worked there after asking the Bishop of London to assign him to the worst part of the diocese. The population of the area was considered to be mainly criminals. Barnett was instrumental in the passing of the Artisan's Dwelling Act of 1875. This allowed for slum clearance and the setting up of minimum standards of construction. He was also involved in the Children's Holiday Fund and the formation of the Youth Hostels Association. In 1923 the parish was united with that of Saint Mary Whitechapel (P93/MRY1).
The church of Saint Matthew originated in a London Diocesan Home Mission founded in the 1860s in the parish of Saint John, Halley Street, (P93/JN1). The permanent church was built in 1871 and assigned a parish in the same year. Services had to compete with the noise of traffic in Commercial Road, the Eastern Counties Railway and the Rotherhithe Tunnel. The church was gutted by an incendiary bomb in 1941 and the parish was united with Saint John's, Halley Street. The ruins of the building were demolished.
The church of Saint Paul was constructed in 1846-47 to replace a 'floating church' on board a ship, the 'Brazen'. In 1864 a district parish was assigned. The church was declared redundant and closed in 1990. The parish was united with Saint George in the East (P93/GEO).
Saint Philip's originated in a proprietary chapel built by local residents between 1817 and 1821, within the parish of Saint Dunstan's (P93/DUN). The building work involved several difficulties and came in vastly over-budget, resulting in an expensive law-suit against the builder. The chapel Trustees asked for funds from the Church Building Commission, which were provided on the condition that the chapel be legally conveyed to the Commissioners to become a parish church. The church was consecrated in 1823 and assigned a district in 1836.
By 1883 the new vicar found the building in a disastrous and disgraceful state of dilapidation. A new church was built and was consecrated on October 12 1892. After the Second World War, the parishes of Saint Augustine (P93/AUG) and Saint Philip were united and the church was then known as Saint Augustine with Saint Philip. It waas declared redundant in 1979 and united with Saint Dunstans and All Saints, Stepney (P93/DUN). The building is now used as the library of the London Hospital.
This district was formed from the parish of Saint Mary, Hornsey, and was originally known as Saint John, South Hornsey. The church was consecrated in 1874 and became known as Saint John the Evangelist, Brownswood Park. The name was changed to Saint John the Evangelist, Finsbury Park some time after 1955 in order to more accurately reflect the location of the church.
The church of Saint Michael and All Angels, Northwold Road, Stoke Newington Common, dates to 1885.
The origins of the parish of Stoke Newington are uncertain. Although the manor of 'Neutone' is mentioned in Domesday Book as belonging to the canons of Saint Paul's, it is not known whether there was a church there at that time. The parish now has two churches, the older of which is the result of the rebuilding in 1563 of an earlier church of unknown date; it now serves as a chapel of ease, having been superseded with the consecration in 1858 of a new parish church, built to accommodate an expanding congregation.
The manor of Stoke Newington, including the glebe and the patronage of the rectory, was a prebend of Saint Paul's Cathedral in the gift of the Bishop of London. Until the mid-sixteenth century, the lordship of the manor was held directly by the prebendary; thereafter, it was held by laymen as lessees of the prebendary. Legislation early in the nineteenth century allowed the granting of building leases and sub-leases, and the enfranchisement of copyhold property. Subsequently, as a result of an act of 1840 (3 &4 Vict. cap.113), the interest in the prebendal manor became vested in the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, and the patronage of the rectory passed from the prebendary to the Bishop of London. At about this time, the Bishop also became ordinary of the parish, as the peculiar jurisdiction of the Dean and Chapter of Saint Paul's over it came to an end.
All Saints was founded in 1856 and consecrated in 1859. It was built to serve the new development of Clapham Park. A parish was assigned in 1873, taken from parts of the parishes of Saint Matthew, Brixton Hill and Saint James, Park Hill, Clapham Park. The Victorian building was replaced by a modern church in 1982.
All Saints was founded in 1868. Construction was complete by 1874. The church was designed by architect George Street and designers Sir Edward Burne-Jones and William Morris, who designed the stained glass windows. After Saint Mary's, Putney (P95/MRY1) was damaged in an arson attack in 1973, All Saints became the main church in the parish. Since 2003 the parish of Putney has been a Team Ministry, and Saint Mary's and All Saints operate separately within the parish.
For more information see: http://www.allsaintsputney.co.uk/ (accessed May 2010).
