The church of Saint Saviour was built in 1872-74, with a school and mission hall nearby. A parish was assigned to the church in 1875. The parish was united with Saint Gabriel, Chrisp Street (P88/GAB) and Saint Stephen, East India Dock Road (P88/STE1) in July 1952. The church was closed in 1975 as the population of the area had decreased.
All Saints church originated in Margaret Chapel, which was constructed in around 1760. In 1839 the chapel became the centre of the High Church Tractarian Movement, a group which advocated Anglo-Catholicism. It was decided to rebuild the chapel in a Gothic style to reflect the ideals of the movement, and architect William Butterfield was hired to design a new church. The building was constructed between 1850 and 1859 and was praised by critics including Ruskin. A vicarage and choir school were included on the site.
Information from The London Encyclopaedia, eds. Weinreb and Hibbert (LMA Library Reference 67.2 WEI).
Emmanuel Church was built as a proprietary chapel, known as Christ Chapel, in 1833-1834 by Lieutenant Colonel the Honorable James Stewart and Frederick Madan. It was consecrated in 1876 as Emmanuel Church and became a separate parish. The church was damaged by bombing in 1940. Under the scheme for the parochial reorganisation of St Marylebone, confirmed in 1952, Emmanuel Church was closed and the parish was divided between Saint Paul, Lisson Grove (P89/PAU2), Saint Mark, Hamilton Terrace (P89/MRK2), and St John's Wood Church (P89/JN1).
Saint Luke's church was built in 1849 as a thanksgiving for the deliverance of the area from a cholera outbreak. It was damaged by bombing during the Second World War. In 1952 the parish was united with Saint Mark, Marylebone Road (P89/MRK1).
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).
The church of Saint Paul originated in the Portland Chapel, which was constructed in 1764. In 1831 it was consecrated and restored. It was closed and demolished in 1908. It should not be confused with the Portman Chapel, Portman Square, which was also renamed Saint Paul's (P89/PAU3).
The parish of Saint Thomas was created from the parish of Saint Marylebone, Marylebone Road (P89/TMS). Philip Hardwick designed the church in the Gothic style. The consecration took place on 7 July 1858. After 1930 Saint Peter's Chapel (P89/PET) took over as the parish church of the united benefice. The church was demolished in 1931.
All Saints Church, Gordon Street, was constructed in 1842 in response to rapid population growth in the ancient parish of Saint Pancras. The architect was Thomas Leverton Donaldson, who was a Professor of Architecture at University College (UCL). In 1909 the church was closed and in 1928 UCL converted it into a hall, called the University Memorial Hall, to remember members of the University who died during the First World War. The hall was destroyed by bombing in 1940.
From: Survey of London: volume 21: The parish of St Pancras part 3: Tottenham Court Road and neighbourhood (1949), pp. 101-102.
Saint Bartholomew's was built in 1811 by voluntary subscription raised by the congregation of William Huntingdon (1744-1813). At its opening the church was given to him as his personal property. The church was used by a number of preachers until in 1837 it came into the possession of a Mr. Davenport who gave it to the Reverend Thomas Mortimer of Saint Marks, Myddleton Square. However, a certificate of lunacy against Mr. Davenport was procured and his Trustees rented the church to Reverend Mortimer for £320 per annum. Mortimer retired in 1849 and Reverend E Garbutt became the new preacher. He managed to buy the chapel and enabled it to be consecrated as a district church by the Bishop of London on 13 Feburary 1860. In April 1959 the parish and benefice were united with the parish of Saint George the Martyr with Holy Trinity, Queen Square, Holborn (P82/GEO2).
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 Martin's Church, Kentish Town, was consecrated in December 1865. The church contains a memorial to its patron and founder John Derby Allcroft of Stokesay Court, Shropshire who endowed the church at his sole cost. A Freemason and leading evangelical churchman, he was treasurer of Christ's Hospital, the Corporation of the Sons of the Clergy and the Royal Hospital for Incurables. As well as Saint Martin's he also endowed two other London churches. His architect was Edward Buckton Lamb. In 1953 the church of Saint Andrew, Haverstock Hill (P90/AND) was united with Saint Martin's.
Saint Matthew, Bedford New Town was one of the number of districts formed out of the parish of Saint Pancras in the mid 1840's to serve the ever-increasing population of the area. A contemporary newspaper even remarked that Saint Pancras was 'an immense suburban parish, the population of which is larger than that of most of the continental capitals'. Prior to the building of a permanent church services were held (commencing in June 1849) in a deserted pianoforte factory. The site for the church was given by the Duke of Bedford who subscribed £1000 to the building fund. The foundation stone was laid by Lord John Russell on 8 May 1852 and the church was consecrated on 23 December 1856. In 1956 the parish was united with the Old Saint Pancras church; and the building was later demolished.
The Percy Chapel was built in 1765; and demolished in 1867. William Wilberforce worshipped here for some years. The chapel was on the west side of Charlotte Street, immediately opposite Windmill Street.
Saint Saviour's Church was originally known as Fitzroy Chapel, built between 1777 and 1788. In 1863 a parish was assigned and the chapel was dedicated to Saint Saviour. The parish was later united with the parish of Saint John the Evangelist (P90/JNE1). The building was destroyed during the Second World War.
From: 'Maple Street', Survey of London: volume 21: The parish of St Pancras part 3: Tottenham Court Road & neighbourhood (1949), pp. 47-48.
Variously called 'Ague Town' or 'Hagar Town', Agar Town was infamous for being a slum without water supply or proper drainage. A report in 1847 stated that about 5,000 people lived in Agar Town; there was no school, church or chapel other than the Old Saint Pancras church which was in the process of being restored. A temporary iron church was therefore erected in Agar Town, together with a Ragged School. Building of a permanent church began in 1859, under the supervision of S.S. Teulon, but it was never completed. The Agar Town church, named Saint Thomas, was sited in Wrotham Road in 1863. It has now been demolished, and the parish united to Saint Michael, Camden Road.
The church of Saint Bartholomew originated in an iron church established in 1874. From 1882 the church acted as a chapel of ease for Saint Mark's, Shoreditch. The congregation of Saint Mark's paid for the construction of a permanent building, and a parish was assigned taken from the parish of Saint Mark's. The church was closed during the Second World War and in 1953 the parish was merged with Saint Mark's. The building was eventually demolished.
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 Agnes was constructed in 1874-1875, designed by George Gilbert Scott in the Gothic Revival style. It was severely damaged in the Second World War and it was necessary to demolish the building. A new church was constructed in 1956 by architect Ralph Covell.
Lady Margaret Church originated in the Saint John's College Cambridge Mission, founded in 1883 in Lock's Fields. In 1889 a site on Chatham Street was donated for a permanent church and a parish was assigned. The church was closed in 1966. The parish was united with Saint John's (P92/JN) and became a chapel of ease within that parish. It was declared redundant in 1983 and was leased by the Cherubim and Seraphim church.
The church of Saint Michael and All Angels was constructed in 1886, to the designs of A.S. Newman. The church was closed in 1953. The parish was united with Saint George the Martyr in October 1956, and in the same year the church building was converted for use as a parish hall by Saint George's. The church was demolished in 2004 and the site was sold.
The church of Saint Mary Magdalene Southwark is also known as Saint Mary Magdalene Walworth. It was constructed in 1843 but was ruined during the Second World War and later demolished. The parish was merged with Lady Margaret Church, Walworth (P92/LDM).
Saint Mary's is the ancient parish church of Newington. The present church was constructed in 1958, replacing a building of 1876 which was badly damaged during the Second World War. Only the tower survives and was incorporated into the new church. The 1876 church was constructed to replace an earlier building, of 1721. From 1826 onwards other parishes were established out of the parish of Saint Mary, including Holy Trinity (P92/TRI), Saint John, Walworth (P92/JN), and Saint Matthew, Newington (P92/MTW). A chapel of ease, Saint Gabriel's, was established in 1874.
Newington Governors and Guardians of the Poor were established by Local Act of Parliament of 1814 which enabled them to assess and collect the poor rate and to build the workhouse and collect other rates in the parish (54 Geo III c.cxiii). They continued to collect the poor rate and to administer poor relief after the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834. A Board of Guardians was established in 1836 (see P92/MRY/315) to carry out the registration functions of the Poor Law district, and to act as a workhouse committee. However it would seem that this eventually ceased to function and its activities were taken over by the Governors and Guardians at their weekly meetings. After the Metropolitan Poor Act of 1867, a Board of Guardians was again established and this took over the administration of the workhouse and poor relief in the parish. In 1869 it became part of St Saviour's Union (see records of Southwark Board of Guardians, SOBG). The Governors and Guardians continued to collect rates until their abolition in 1901 on the formation of the Metropolitan Borough of Southwark.
Saint Paul's was constructed in 1858. It was badly damaged during the Second World War and had to be demolished. The benefice and parish were united with the benefice and parish of Saint Jude, Southwark (P92/JUD). Saint Jude's Church became the parish church of the united parish.
The Pembroke College Mission was established by the Cambridge college of the same name in 1885. The mission was assigned a parish and a permanent church was constructed in 1908; the church was dedicated to Saint Christopher.
The district chapelry of Saint Stephen was formed from part of the parish of Saint George (P92/GEO) in 1853. The church was constructed in 1850, designed by S.S. Teulon. The church was declared redundant in 1964 and was demolished a year later. The parish was divided between Saint Mary Bermondsey and Holy Trinity Southwark.
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).
A mission run by Saint Dunstan's (P93/DUN) existed for some time in cramped quarters in Shandy Street. Money for a new building became available through over-subscription to the costs of a legal case between the Rector of Stepney and Annie Besant.
Saint Faith's was described as one of the most charming of Stepney's churches. Work commenced in 1891 and it was licensed for use on October 24th 1891. It was not until 1901 that the church was finally completed. The Rector of Saint Dunstan's was discomfited by the cost as his church had been severely damaged by fire and it was very difficult to find money to pay for both Saint Faith's and for the restoration of Saint Dunstan's.
Saint Faith's remained a chapel of ease to Saint Dunstan's until 1926. An Order in Council allowed it to become a parish church for several districts around it, but the new parish was very short-lived. The church was badly shaken by a bomb blast in 1940 and had to be closed. The parish was re-united with Saint Dunstan's after post war re-organisation. The church building has since been demolished.
Saint James' was the first church built in Stepney by the Bishop Blomfield Metropolitan Churches Fund. Designed by Edward Laoidge, it was consecrated in August 1833. The church was gutted by incendiary bombs on September 7th 1940. In 1951 the parish was united to Saint Paul's, Shadwell (P93/PAU3) and the ruins taken down. The site was added to a public garden which had already been laid out in the old graveyard.
The City of London church of All Hallows, Staining (P69/ALH6) was demolished and the parish merged with Saint Olave, Hart Street (P69/OLA1). The rector used some of the funds raised from the sale of the site of All Hallows to build a church in the poor district of Mile End New Town, on the corner of Hanbury Street and Kingward Street, in the middle of a terrible slum. The foundation stone was laid on 25th June 1874; the architect was A.W. Bomfield; the design Early English. It was consecrated by the Bishop of London on 23rd April 1975. Later a vicarage and parish hall were built.
The stonework was decayed by 1904, the church closed and the parish reunited to All Saints (P93/ALL1). The church was demolished in 1916. The mission building was sold in 1929 and became a synagogue. This was demolished in 1965 and the site is now a children's playground.
Saint Saviour's Chapel was built in 1695. The Rector of Saint George in the East (P93/GEO) leased the church in 1859 and used it as a mission chapel. A dispute developed between the Rector of Saint George's and the Minister of Saint Paul, Dock Street (P93/PAU2). When a district was assigned to Saint Paul's in 1864, Saint Saviour's Church lay within the new parish. Saint Paul's bought the church for use as a school and closed the mission.
Holy Trinity was begun in 1834, financed partly by the Church Building Commissioners and partly by local residents. In 1836 money could not be found to complete the project and it was sold to the Metropolitan Church Building Fund, who finished the building. It was consecrated in 1839.
A temporary iron mission church was first established in Aden Grove in 1872. A district was assigned to the church in 1873, taken from the parishes of Saint Mary and Saint Matthias. In 1876 a permanent church was constructed in the Early English style, seating 800. The parish of All Saints was united with the parish of Saint Faith with Saint Matthias by Order in Council dated 23 November 1956; forming the parish of Saint Faith with Saint Matthias and All Saints. The Church of All Saints was subsequently closed and Saint Matthias Church became the parish church of the united parish.
From: 'Stoke Newington: Churches', A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 8: Islington and Stoke Newington parishes (1985), pp. 204-211.
The church of Saint Michael and All Angels, Northwold Road, Stoke Newington Common, dates to 1885.
The church of Saint Olave was constructed in 1894, using funds from the demolition of the City church of Saint Olave, Old Jewry. The seventeenth century pulpit and font were transferred from the former Saint Olave. The parish had been established in 1892, and was enlarged in 1951.
From: 'Stoke Newington: Churches', A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 8: Islington and Stoke Newington parishes (1985), pp. 204-211.
The conventional district of Saint Andrew, Earlsfield, was formed in 1884. This became a separate parish in 1890, created from the parishes of Saint Anne, Wandsworth (P95/ANN)and Saint Mary, Summerstown (P95/MRY2). Saint Andrew's Church was consecrated on 8 February 1890. Two new churches were later built within Saint Andrew's parish. Bendon Valley Mission Church later became the district church of Saint John the Divine, Earlsfield (P95/JNE2) and in 1938 was made a separate parish. The district church of Saint James, Earlsfield remained within Saint Andrew's parish.
Saint Anne's Church is one of the five 'Waterloo Churches' built in the Southwark diocese. It was built as part of a plan to erect churches as monuments to the victories at Trafalgar and Waterloo. Building of Saint Anne's Church began in 1820 and was completed in 1824. The architect was Sir Robert Smirke. The church was consecrated on 1 May 1824 as a chapel of ease to the Parish Church of All Saints, Wandsworth (P95/ALL1).
On 12 December 1846 it was agreed that the parish of All Saints should be divided. An existing Act of Parliament however specified that new churches should remain chapels of ease during the incumbency of the vicar of the mother church. It was therefore not until July 1850, when the Revd Dr Pemberton of All Saints resigned, that Saint Anne's Wandsworth became a separate parish. An order of the Bishop of Winchester (8 November 1850) authorised baptisms and marriages to take place in Saint Anne's Church. Baptism, marriage and burial registers start from this date (and have a copy of the Bishop's decree inside the front covers).
The church was beautified and the chancel added at the end of the 19th century. Extensive structural damage was caused during the Second World War and repairs were carried out from 1945 to 1948. In June 1950 a fire broke out destroying the roof and causing the closure of the church. Services were held in the Church of Saint Mary the Virgin (P95/MRY4) until Saint Anne's Church was re-opened and re-dedicated in 1951.
The Church of Saint Mary the Virgin, Iron Mill Place, Garratt Lane, was a chapel of ease to Saint Anne's Church. It was consecrated in 1905, but after the Second World War its congregation transferred to Saint Anne's. In 1950 it was used for services again while Saint Anne's Church was being repaired. See list P95/MRY4 for records of the Church of Saint Mary the Virgin. It should be noted, however, that there are several references to Saint Mary's among the records of Saint Anne's Church.
In 1938 Saint James' Church, Earlsfield Road was transferred from the parish of Saint Andrew (P95/AND1) to the parish of Saint Anne. After the Second World War the church was converted into a hall and was used as another centre for parish work. For records relating to Saint James' Church see P95/ANN/530-533. For register of baptisms performed at Saint James' Church see P95/AND1/13.
Garratt Lane Infant School: Plans for the school were drawn up in 1867 and the site was conveyed to the Minister and Churchwardens of Saint Anne's Church on 20 July 1870. The school was closed in 1883 due to the establishment of other schools in the neighbourhood. Thenceforth the premises were used for a Sunday School and later for church societies during the week. The building came to be known as the Mission Hall, Iron Mill Place. For records relating to Garratt Lane Infant School see P95/ANN/301-306.
The building of Saint Anne's Church of England Schools for boys, girls and subsequently infants, began in 1858 after land in Saint Ann's Hill/All Farthing Lane was conveyed to the Vicar and Churchwardens of Saint Anne's Church. For records relating to Saint Anne's Schools see P95/ANN/236-306. For additional plans of the school (1870 and 1858) see Y/SP/95/5 and Y/SP/95/6/A-C. There are also records relating to Saint Anne's Schools in the series of Inspectors' Reports for non-provided schools, and in the Admission and Discharge registers for Division 9 in the Greater London Record Office.
Papers of Miss Irene Caudwell (P95/ANN/560-572): Miss Irene Caudwell was secretary of Saint Anne's Parochial Church Council, sacristan, editor of the parish magazine and a member of many church bodies and societies. In addition, she had a great interest in the history of Saint Anne's Church, and her book The Pepper-Pot Church: St Anne's Wandsworth was published in 1946. Miss Caudwell also wrote many passion plays, and articles for religious magazines and local newspapers, and gave talks on local history.
The church of Ascension was built by Arthur Cawston between 1883 and 1890, in response to rapid population growth of the area south of Clapham.
The parish of Christ Church was created from part of the parish of Holy Trinity, Clapham Common North Side (P95/TRI1). The church was designed by the architect Benjamin Ferrey and was built 1861-1862. The Vicarage was designed by George Edmund Street.
The church of Saint John the Divine was built between 1883 and 1900, in two stages. The architect of the first stage (the chancel) was R.J. Withers and the second stage (nave and aisles) was E.H. Elphick. The church was closed in 1983 and sold for residential use. The parish was merged with Saint Mary, Balham (P95/MRY3) to form the parish of Saint Mary and Saint John the Divine.
The church of Saint Margaret, Putney started life as a private Baptist Chapel, known as Granard Chapel, built in the grounds of Granard Lodge by Colonel Croll. It was subsequently used as a Presbyterian chapel until 1898 when the Presbyterian congregation moved to a new church at the corner of Briar Walk.
In 1910, Seth Taylor, who had acquired Granard Lodge, offered the chapel to the vicar of Putney and promised to make annual contributions towards the stipend of the Curate-in-Charge. The church was consecrated 5 October 1912 and dedicated to Saint Margaret.
After the First World War the London County Council purchased Dover House. The new estate increased the population very rapidly from 1,200 to nearly 10,000, and it was felt necessary to enlarge the church of Saint Margaret and constitute it as a separate parish. By 11 October 1923 the formalities were completed and Mr Wallis was instituted as the first vicar, 19 February 1924. The foundation stone of the enlarged church was laid in October 1925 and the extension consecrated in February 1926. A vicarage was bought and four years later a church hall was built in the Pleasance.
James Knowles was responsible for the construction of the Cedars Estate in Clapham, and Saint Saviour was his maiden church. The parish was created from Holy Trinity, Clapham Common North Side (P95/TRI1). The church was built in the Decorated Gothic style of Kentish Ragstone and Bath stone fittings by Myers in 1864 and paid for by Reverend Fitzwilliam Wentworth Atkins Bowyer, Lord of the Manor and Rector. The church started life as chapel of ease to Holy Trinity.
Consecration took place on 11 November 1873 and the church became the Parish Church in about 1876. The church was bombed during the Second World War and subsequently demolished. In 1962 London County Council purchased the site for redevelopment and an apartment block (190 Cedars Road) was built on the site.
The parish of Saint Stephen was created from All Saints, Clapham Park, Saint James, Park Hill, Clapham Park and Saint Mary, Balham High Road. Sir James Knowles, architect, would not allow his daughter to marry Reverend George Eastman and so she decided to build him a church to her father's design and to leave him her fortune. The church in the Gothic style was consecrated 22 June 1867. In circa 1881 a number of Evangelists left the congregation of Saint Mary's, Balham as they objected to the High Church innovation there. They founded the iron church, Saint Paul, Balham. On Reverend Eastman's retirement they purchased Saint Stephen's and the congregation moved there. The church suffered slight war damage and was restored and redecorated in 1954.
By 1970 the church was in a poor state of repair and so was demolished when the area was redeveloped. A modern church was built on approximately the same site in 1974.
Holy Trinity was the Ancient parish of Clapham; and an earlier church of that name stood on the site now occupied by Saint Paul's, Rectory Grove. With the increase in population in this area the original church was not considered large enough. The new Holy Trinity was built in 1774-1779 on the common. The architect was Kenton Couse who was also responsible for 10 Downing Street. Consecration took place in June 1776. The burial ground around the old church, later known as Saint Paul's Churchyard, remained in use until 1855 as no burials took place in the churchyard around the present Holy Trinity. In 1812 the portico was added by Francis Hurlbatt. The church was considerably altered in 1875 to A. Blomfield's designs.
Holy Trinity was well known as the church of The Clapham Sect which included Zachary Macaulay, Granville Sharp, William Wilberforce and Henry Thornton. The Sect are commemorated by a plaque.
The church suffered damage during the Second World War when the Lady Chapel was burnt out by incendiary bombs. Restoration and repairs were carried out under the direction of Thomas Ford. Friday 6 June 1952 saw the Rededication of the church following completion of the works.
Ascension Church was constructed between 1903 and 1911, designed by A. E. Habershon in a Gothic style.
Saint Francis, Eltham was originally a daughter church of Saint John the Baptist, Eltham and was used as a mission church until 1962. Between 1946 and 1953, it appears to have been known as Talbot Settlement Number 2 and was located in a temporary structure in Hengist Road.
In 1953, a permanent church, designed by Ralph Covell, opened at the corner of Sibthorpe Road and Hengist Road.
Between 1981 and 2006, the church was leased to Horn Park Community Association.
From 2006, the church was used by the parish of Saint Saviour, Eltham.
The Royal Dockyard was established in 1512 by King Henry VIII for the construction of his flagship "Great Harry". The Royal Arsenal (also known as the Woolwich Arsenal) was also a Tudor foundation for the manufacture and testing of arms. The Dockyard was expanded and by the 1840s was constructing steam ships. However, in 1869 it was closed. The Royal Arsenal was a large employer during the Second World War but was subsequently reduced in size.
Holy Trinity was constructed in 1886. It was closed in 1960 and demolished in 1974. The parish was united with the parish of Saint Mary Magdalene with Saint Michael and All Angels (P97/MRY, P97/MAA1).
An Act of 1792 established seven 'Public Offices' (later Police offices and Police courts) in the central Metropolitan area. The aim was to establish fixed locations where 'fit and able magistrates' would attend at fixed times to deal with an increasing number of criminal offences.
Offices were opened in St Margaret Westminster, St James Westminster, Clerkenwell, Shoreditch, Whitechapel, Shadwell and Southwark. An office in Bow Street, Covent Garden, originally the home of the local magistrate, had been operating for almost 50 years and was largely the model for the new offices.
In 1800 the Marine Police Office or Thames Police Office, opened by 'private enterprise' in 1798, was incorporated into the statutory system. In 1821 an office was opened in Marylebone, apparently replacing the one in Shadwell.
Each office was assigned three Justices of the Peace. They were to receive a salary of £400 per annum. These were the first stipendiary magistrates. Later they were expected to be highly qualified in the law, indeed, to be experienced barristers. This distinguished them from the local lay justices who after the setting up of Police Offices were largely confined, in the Metropolitan area, to the licensing of innkeepers. In addition each office could appoint up to six constables to be attached to it.
The commonly used term of 'Police Court' was found to be misleading. The word 'police' gave the impression that the Metropolitan Police controlled and administered the courts. This was never the case, the word 'police' was being used in its original meaning of 'pertaining to civil administration', 'regulating', etc.
In April 1965 (following the Administration of Justice Act 1964) the London Police Courts with their stipendiary magistrates were integrated with the lay magistrates to form the modern Inner London Magistrates' Courts.
The police courts dealt with a wide range of business coming under the general heading of 'summary jurisdiction', i.e. trial without a jury. The cases heard were largely criminal and of the less serious kind. Over the years statutes created many offences that the courts could deal with in addition to Common Law offences. Examples include: drunk and disorderly conduct, assault, theft, begging, possessing stolen goods, cruelty to animals, desertion from the armed forces, betting, soliciting, loitering with intent, obstructing highways, and motoring offences. Non-criminal matters included small debts concerning income tax and local rates, landlord and tenant matters, matrimonial problems and bastardy.
Offences beyond the powers of the Court would normally be passed to the Sessions of the Peace or Gaol Delivery Sessions in the Old Bailey (from 1835 called the Central Criminal Court). From the late 19th century such cases would be the subject of preliminary hearings or committal proceedings in the magistrates' courts.
Outside the London Police Court Area but within the administrative county of Middlesex lay justices continued to deal with both criminal offences and administrative matters such as the licensing of innkeepers.
The exact area covered by a Court at any particular time can be found in the Kelly's Post Office London Directories, available on microfilm at LMA. The entries are based on the original Orders-in-Council establishing police court districts. A map showing police court districts is kept in the Information Area of LMA with other reference maps. Please ask a member of staff for assistance.