ST MARY ABBOTS PARISH CHURCH
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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 

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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. 

The PCC of St Mary Abbots is a Registered Charity : Number 1132235
At St Mary Abbots we are committed to the safeguarding and care of children, young people and vulnerable adults.  
 ​Safeguarding ​
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  • Home
  • Services
    • Lent & Easter 2023
    • Sunday & Weekday Services
    • Family Eucharist
    • Baptism Sundays
    • Healing Eucharist
    • Taize Eucharist
  • Life events
    • Weddings
    • Baptism
    • Confirmation
    • Funerals
  • What is on
    • Lent Study Group
    • Lent Artist in Residence
    • Handel's Messiah, Part II & III
    • Royal College of Music Recitals
    • Ramp Project to mark 150 years
    • Lighting up the church
    • On-line Exhibition
  • About us
    • The Clergy & Parish Staff
    • Location
    • Mission Action Plan
    • Safeguarding
    • Vacancies
    • Gallery
    • Church Groups >
      • Homeless Ministry
      • Flower Arranger Group
    • Affiliated Groups & Charities >
      • Food Bank support
      • Glass Door support
    • Music at St Mary Abbots
    • Our Bells
    • History of St Mary Abbots >
      • Early Churches of Kensington
      • The building of our Church
      • Sir George Gilbert Scott
      • Famous residents
      • War Time Damage
      • The Cathedral-like Interior
    • PCC & Administration >
      • Annual report and financial statement
      • Electoral Roll >
        • Our Parish
      • PRIVACY NOTICE
    • Church Hire
    • St Mary Abbots Centre
  • Children
    • Children on Sunday >
      • Children's volunteers
    • Children's Choir
    • Bitesized Bible Group
    • School Eucharist
    • Mini Abbots Baby Group
    • Youth Ministry
    • Safeguarding children
  • Newsletter / Sermon
    • Sermons
    • Newsletter
    • Kensington Parish News
  • Support us
    • How to donate
    • Friends of St Mary Abbots
    • Legacy
    • Local Support