The History of St Mary Abbots Church
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
|
|
Although the present church of St Mary Abbots will be 151 years old this year and there has been a community of worship here for some 1000 years. The earliest record is a a mention of a church in the Doomsday book, making it the site of the first church in Kensington and until the 19th Century the only church in Kensington. The history of the church, and the two buildings that stood on the same spot, both the medieval church and 17th Century, can be read in the Early churches of Kensington section of the website.
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. In 1868 he commissioned Sir George Gilbert Scott, possibly the most famous and sought after architect of his day, to produce a sketch design of the new parish church of Kensington.
Our present church is his last but one major church and represents his work at its best. The main building of the church was finished in early 1872 and consecrated on 14th May of that year. The spire and tower were not completed until 7 ½ years later, a year after Scott’s death. The spire is one of the tallest in London, and Gilbert Scott provided an exceptionally spacious stone‐built tower which holds a fine, heavy Victorian ring of ten bells (and the clock mechanism) without any apparent strain. Much of the internal finishing and the addition of the cloister was carried out by his second son, John Oldrid Scott, and his grandson, following his father and grandfathers designs.
In March 1944 St Mary Abbots suffered wartime damage in the Blitz. Although the nave and chancel roofs were destroyed and damage done to stained glass and the organ, the main structure was not seriously harmed. The Church was temporarily repaired to allow services to continut.
In February 1956 a service of thanksgiving was held in the restored Church in its Cathedral like Interior.
Currently St Mary Abbots is in need of updating, and our first project and fundraising effort will go towards installing better disabled access in the church - the first of these being the installation of ramp in the cloister area. This will be of benefit to our congregation, visitors and for those hiring the church for events. If you would like to donate money to our church to enable this work, and towards the maintenance of this beautiful building please look at our ' support us' page HERE.
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. In 1868 he commissioned Sir George Gilbert Scott, possibly the most famous and sought after architect of his day, to produce a sketch design of the new parish church of Kensington.
Our present church is his last but one major church and represents his work at its best. The main building of the church was finished in early 1872 and consecrated on 14th May of that year. The spire and tower were not completed until 7 ½ years later, a year after Scott’s death. The spire is one of the tallest in London, and Gilbert Scott provided an exceptionally spacious stone‐built tower which holds a fine, heavy Victorian ring of ten bells (and the clock mechanism) without any apparent strain. Much of the internal finishing and the addition of the cloister was carried out by his second son, John Oldrid Scott, and his grandson, following his father and grandfathers designs.
In March 1944 St Mary Abbots suffered wartime damage in the Blitz. Although the nave and chancel roofs were destroyed and damage done to stained glass and the organ, the main structure was not seriously harmed. The Church was temporarily repaired to allow services to continut.
In February 1956 a service of thanksgiving was held in the restored Church in its Cathedral like Interior.
Currently St Mary Abbots is in need of updating, and our first project and fundraising effort will go towards installing better disabled access in the church - the first of these being the installation of ramp in the cloister area. This will be of benefit to our congregation, visitors and for those hiring the church for events. If you would like to donate money to our church to enable this work, and towards the maintenance of this beautiful building please look at our ' support us' page HERE.
