Parish of St Mary Matfelon, Whitechapel , Church of England

By the thirteenth century the ancient parish church of Saint Dunstan's Stepney (P93/DUN) was too small for the population of the area. A new church, Saint Mary Matfelon, was built as a chapel of ease. The name Matfelon is of French origin. The church certainly existed by 1280 and achieved parish status by 1320; it was rebuilt in 1362. The church was covered in limewash, hence the name 'Whitechapel', which gave its name to the district. The building was badly damaged in the Second World War and was pulled down. The site is now a public garden. The parish was divided between Christ Church with All Saints (P93/CTC1) and Saint Augustine with Saint Philip (P93/AUG).