ST MARY ABBOTS PARISH CHURCH
  • Home
  • Services
    • Sunday & Weekday Services
    • Family Eucharist
    • Baptism Sundays
    • Taize Eucharist
    • Healing Eucharist
    • Seasonal Services >
      • Candlemas
      • Ash Wednesday
      • Lent Reflections
      • Holy Week & Easter 2025
      • All Souls Service
  • Life events
    • Weddings
    • Baptism
    • Confirmation
    • Funerals
  • What is on
    • Royal College of Music Recitals
    • Rev'd Andy Roland book launch
    • Patronal Festival 2025
  • Gallery
    • Railing Restoration Project
    • Access & Ramp Project
    • Lighting up the church
    • On-line Exhibition
  • About us
    • The Clergy & Parish Staff >
      • Vicars of St Mary Abbots
      • Updates from former Clergy
    • Location
    • Mission Action Plan
    • Safeguarding
    • Volunteering
    • Church Groups >
      • Homeless Ministry
      • Flower Arranger Group
    • Affiliated Groups & Charities >
      • Food Bank support
      • Glass Door support >
        • Glass door sleepout 2024
    • 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
      • Covid Risk Assessment
      • PRIVACY NOTICE
    • Church Hire
    • St Mary Abbots Centre >
      • Job Vacancies
  • Children
    • Safeguarding children
    • Sunday School >
      • Children's volunteers
    • Children and Family Eucharist
    • Mini Abbots Baby Group
    • Bitesized Bible Group
    • Youth Work & Ministry
    • School Eucharist
  • Newsletter / Sermon
    • Sermons
    • Newsletter >
      • Archived Newsletters
      • Kensington Parish News
  • Support
    • How to donate
    • Friends of St Mary Abbots
    • Legacy
    • Local Support

War-time Damage

"Most of the bombs dropped at the end of the church where the entrance was. The church organist lived very near and he rushed round and started to play in an effort to deflect the flames away from the precious organ. Daddy remembered the dramatic scene of pigeons fluttering around helplessly near the flames which were rising through the roof of the beautiful old church, while the organist played the music of Bach (perhaps ironically a German composer). An American officer came over from the Officers' Club opposite and stood watching in tears. My father too always spoke of this scene with tears in his eyes. I knew the church well because I used to sing in the choir. I remember a Christmas Party given by the Americans for children, with oranges, chocolate and balloons and all the things we couldn't get during the war. The Americans were very generous."  Memories of Mrs Pauline Burden from the BBC's WW2 People's War. 
    Early Churches of Kensington                               The Building of our Church                                       Sir George Gilbert Scott
​                      Wartime Damage                              The Cathedral-like Interior                     Famous Residents 


Fire-bombs caused very serious damage to the fabric of St Mary Abbots in March 1944. Although the nave and chancel roofs were destroyed and damage done to stained glass and the organ, the main structure was not seriously harmed. There is a story that while the fire-fighters fought the blaze, an air raid warden plaued the organ to keep the water out of the pipes thus perhaps preventing more serious damage.

The Church was temporarily repaired to allow services to continue; and in February 1956 a service of thanksgiving was held in the restored Church.

St Paul's Church in Vicarage Gate, a daughter church of St Mary Abbots, was also gutted in the war but was not rebuilt.

Picture

The PCC of St Mary Abbots with Christ Church and St Philip is a Registered Charity : Number 1132235
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • Services
    • Sunday & Weekday Services
    • Family Eucharist
    • Baptism Sundays
    • Taize Eucharist
    • Healing Eucharist
    • Seasonal Services >
      • Candlemas
      • Ash Wednesday
      • Lent Reflections
      • Holy Week & Easter 2025
      • All Souls Service
  • Life events
    • Weddings
    • Baptism
    • Confirmation
    • Funerals
  • What is on
    • Royal College of Music Recitals
    • Rev'd Andy Roland book launch
    • Patronal Festival 2025
  • Gallery
    • Railing Restoration Project
    • Access & Ramp Project
    • Lighting up the church
    • On-line Exhibition
  • About us
    • The Clergy & Parish Staff >
      • Vicars of St Mary Abbots
      • Updates from former Clergy
    • Location
    • Mission Action Plan
    • Safeguarding
    • Volunteering
    • Church Groups >
      • Homeless Ministry
      • Flower Arranger Group
    • Affiliated Groups & Charities >
      • Food Bank support
      • Glass Door support >
        • Glass door sleepout 2024
    • 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
      • Covid Risk Assessment
      • PRIVACY NOTICE
    • Church Hire
    • St Mary Abbots Centre >
      • Job Vacancies
  • Children
    • Safeguarding children
    • Sunday School >
      • Children's volunteers
    • Children and Family Eucharist
    • Mini Abbots Baby Group
    • Bitesized Bible Group
    • Youth Work & Ministry
    • School Eucharist
  • Newsletter / Sermon
    • Sermons
    • Newsletter >
      • Archived Newsletters
      • Kensington Parish News
  • Support
    • How to donate
    • Friends of St Mary Abbots
    • Legacy
    • Local Support