The Early Churches of Kensington
"it really is a charming place, filled with history and stories"
Early Churches of Kensington The Building of our Church Sir George Gilbert Scott
Wartime Damage The Cathedral-like Interior Famous Residents
Wartime Damage The Cathedral-like Interior Famous Residents
After 700 AD, the Saxon sons of Cynesinge founded a settlement or ‘tun’ near or on the land where St Mary Abbots now stands. After the Norman Conquest, the manor and surrounding land was given to Aubrey de Vere; and the Domesday Book records that a priest held 15 acres of land in 'Chensiton'. Around 1100, Godfrey, Aubrey’s son, fell seriously ill and was cured by Faritius, Abbot of the great Benedictine Abbey of St Mary at Abingdon. On his deathbed, Godfrey bequeathed the church in Kensington, with 270 acres, to the abbey.
In 1260 the abbey established an independent parish in Kensington, dedicated to St Mary and possibly then given the epithet of ‘Abbots’, which may not be an English possessive, but a form of ecclesia Beate Marie Abbatis.
In 1260 the abbey established an independent parish in Kensington, dedicated to St Mary and possibly then given the epithet of ‘Abbots’, which may not be an English possessive, but a form of ecclesia Beate Marie Abbatis.
But the church had been established without the approval of the Bishop of London so an action ensued in the consistory court of the diocese. As a result, the patronage of the church was preserved in perpetuity to the Bishop of London - a right he still possesses, except when the previous vicar has been raised to the episcopate in England; at which point the right passes to the crown.
In 1370 the Norman church was rebuilt but no records remain. Kensington was a small and unimportant village in the middle of a forest, with travellers passing through on their way to the West, and no records remain of its appearance.
During the reformation the church lands passed out of the Abbey's control, but after a century has passed we begin to find records about the church and what it looked like. By now London was increasing rapidly with a number of noble and wealthy people choosing to live in Kensington and, as was customary, decorated and improved the appearance of their church.
In 1370 the Norman church was rebuilt but no records remain. Kensington was a small and unimportant village in the middle of a forest, with travellers passing through on their way to the West, and no records remain of its appearance.
During the reformation the church lands passed out of the Abbey's control, but after a century has passed we begin to find records about the church and what it looked like. By now London was increasing rapidly with a number of noble and wealthy people choosing to live in Kensington and, as was customary, decorated and improved the appearance of their church.
A description found in a local guide book "...in 1602 and 1625 the windows in the chancel were filled with painted glass. A little later the celling of the Chancel was decorated with pictures of the heavenly choirs, and the ceiling of the nave painted in azure blue and powered with starts of gilt and silver. The communion Table itself was covered with a richly embroidered 'Capet' and a fair linen cloth'."
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By the end of the 17th Century the medieval church was in a serious state of disrepair. In 1685 new aisles were built onto the north and south but it was still considered by the parishioners to be too small and dark especially given the newly arrived presence of William III, who had chosen Kensington for his royal residence and court.
A new church was constructed, leaving only the medieval tower in place, and was considered "very large and spacious, built of brick......very regular and convenient......paved handsomely with purbeck stone...and the pulpit and chancel handsomely adorned with carving and painting'. Many of the objects in the church are from this period, such as the pulpit, rumoured to be a gift of William III, many of the monuments, some of the silver and the church wardens staffs. But the new church was not without issues. In 1772 the old medieval tower was pulled down and a new brick one put in its place. |
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Until the 19th century St Mary Abbots remained the only church in Kensington, and the parish had increased in numbers by about 10,000. Kensington was no longer a village but part of London. When the new vicar of Kensington and Archdeacon John Sinclair arrived he created 14 new ecclesiastical districts out of the original parish. The church was still too small and needed to be replaced. In 1868, the vicar commissioned Sir George Gilbert Scott to produce a sketch design of the new parish church of Kensington.
Old images seen on our history pages are from the RBK&C library archive for a Library Times Machine in an article written by Dave Walker and Isabel Hernandez and with help from our very own Pat Wilson and Jane McCallan. A link to the article can be found HERE.
The PCC of St Mary Abbots with Christ Church and St Philip is a Registered Charity : Number 1132235
