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St Mary Abbots

January 17, 2023

St Mary Abbots is a church located on Kensington High Street and the corner of Kensington Church Street in London W8.

St Mary Abbots
St Mary Abbots Church in 2007
LocationKensington Church Street, Kensington, London W8 4LA
CountryEngland
DenominationChurch of England
ChurchmanshipHigh Church
Websitestmaryabbotschurch.org
History
StatusParish church
Consecrated1262
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Heritage designationGrade II*
Architect(s)Sir George Gilbert Scott
StyleNeo-gothic
Completed1872[1]
Specifications
Capacity700[2]
Length179 feet (55m)[2]
Width109 feet (34m)[2]
Number of spiresOne
Spire height278 feet (85m)[2]
Clergy
Vicar(s)The Rev'd Emma Dinwiddy Smith

The present church structure was built in 1872 to the designs of Sir George Gilbert Scott, who combined neo-Gothic and early-English styles. This edifice remains noted for having the tallest spire in London and is the latest in a series on the site since the beginning of the 12th century.

The church, and its railings, are listed at Grade II* on the National Heritage List for England.[3]

History

Foundation

Sir Aubrey de Vere was a Norman knight who was rewarded with the manor of Kensington, among other estates, after the successful Norman Conquest. Around 1100, his eldest son, Godfrey (great-uncle of Aubrey, 1st Earl of Oxford),[4] was taken seriously ill and cared for by Faritius, abbot of the Benedictine Abbey of St Mary at Abingdon. After a period of remission, Godfrey de Vere died in 1106 aged about 19.[2]

The de Vere family's gratitude to the abbey for their son's care was recognised by its bequest of land 270 acres (1.1 km2). In 1262 the abbey founded a church and parish in Kensington, dedicated to St Mary. The epithet of Abbots is deemed to derive from its link with the ancient Abingdon Abbey rather than that subsequently with the diocese of the Bishop of London. However, this led to a dispute with the bishop and legal action followed in the diocesan consistory court. This resulted in the patronage of the church passing to the bishop in perpetuity but rights over the surrounding land remaining with the abbey.[2] The succession of vicars is recorded in a direct line back to this foundation in 1262.

Rebuilds

 
Old St Mary Abbots Church, in 1869, shortly before its demolition

In 1370 the Norman church was rebuilt.[2]

When William III relocated the Royal Court to Kensington Palace in 1689 the area became fashionable rendering the medieval church too small, thus it was demolished at the end of the 17th century and replaced by a Late Renaissance-style building. This in turn proved too small as London urbanised in the 19th century.

Around 1860 the vicar, Archdeacon William Sinclair, launched a campaign for the building of a striking new church. The architect George Gilbert Scott was engaged and recommended the demolition of the existing church to take advantage of the site at the road junction. St Mary Abbot's design is almost certainly influenced by Scott's earlier work on Dunblane Cathedral - its west front's tall window and carved tympanum are similar to those in the Cathedral. The 278 ft (85 m) high spire is clearly influenced by that of St Mary Redcliffe, Bristol.[2] The present church retains many fittings from the earlier churches, especially funeral monuments from the mid-17th century onwards.

In June 2015, the church launched a major fundraising appeal, looking to raise around £7.2m,[5] to be spent on restoring the church and improving it as a community hub.

Bells

The tower holds a ring of ten bells hung for change ringing. Five of these bells — the fourth, fifth, sixth, eighth and ninth of the current ring — date from 1772 and were cast by Thomas Janaway. The other five — the treble, second, third, seventh and tenor — were cast in 1879 by John Warner & Sons.[6] The five bells were funded through a donation by Phyllis Cunliffe (1890-1974), mother to Christopher Ironside (UK decimal coin designer).

Primary school

The church has an associated primary school in its churchyard, founded in 1707 as a charity school.[7] The school buildings were designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor in 1711, but demolished in the 1870s to make way for a town hall. The present buildings date from 1875 and are notable for the painted stone statues by Thomas Eustace of a boy and girl, dating from about 1715,[8] now on the north face of the school; its playgrounds intersperse with the churchyard, and the school maintains close links with the Church of England.[9][10]

Notable people

Notable clergy

Notable parishioners

Gallery

  •  

    West stained glass window

  •  

    Altar and nave

  •  

    Nave wide-angle view

  •  

    Church entrance and cloister

References

  1. ^ Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea – Churches rbkc.gov.uk, Accessed 29 July 2019
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Lloyd, Dr Russell (January 2004). "The Early Churches of Kensington". www.stmaryabbotschurch.org. St Mary Abbots parish. Retrieved 7 November 2009.
  3. ^ Historic England, "Parish church of St Mary Abbot and railings to churchyard (1239529)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 7 January 2016
  4. ^ British History Online: Kensington british-history.ac.uk, Accessed 29 July 2019
  5. ^ . stmaryabbotsappeal.com. Archived from the original on 5 June 2015.
  6. ^ "Kensington—S Mary Abbots". Dove's Guide for Church Bell Ringers. 28 August 2006.
  7. ^ British History Online: The village centres around St. Mary Abbots church and Notting Hill Gate british-history.ac.uk, Accessed 29 July 2019
  8. ^ Grouped Pieces and Miscellaneous Items rbkc.gov.uk, Accessed 29 July 2019
  9. ^ . smanews.weebly.com. Archived from the original on 10 May 2011.
  10. ^ . webfronter.com. Archived from the original on 20 August 2012.
  • Allchin, A. M. (1960). St. Mary Abbots, Kensington: a brief history and guide. Favil Press.

External links

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to St Mary Abbots, Kensington.
  • Official website  
  • www.london.anglican.org

Coordinates: 51°30′08″N 0°11′30″W / 51.50222°N 0.19167°W / 51.50222; -0.19167

January 17, 2023
mary, abbots, church, located, kensington, high, street, corner, kensington, church, street, london, church, 2007locationkensington, church, street, kensington, london, 4lacountryenglanddenominationchurch, englandchurchmanshiphigh, churchwebsitestmaryabbotschu. St Mary Abbots is a church located on Kensington High Street and the corner of Kensington Church Street in London W8 St Mary AbbotsSt Mary Abbots Church in 2007LocationKensington Church Street Kensington London W8 4LACountryEnglandDenominationChurch of EnglandChurchmanshipHigh ChurchWebsitestmaryabbotschurch orgHistoryStatusParish churchConsecrated1262ArchitectureFunctional statusActiveHeritage designationGrade II Architect s Sir George Gilbert ScottStyleNeo gothicCompleted1872 1 SpecificationsCapacity700 2 Length179 feet 55m 2 Width109 feet 34m 2 Number of spiresOneSpire height278 feet 85m 2 ClergyVicar s The Rev d Emma Dinwiddy SmithThe present church structure was built in 1872 to the designs of Sir George Gilbert Scott who combined neo Gothic and early English styles This edifice remains noted for having the tallest spire in London and is the latest in a series on the site since the beginning of the 12th century The church and its railings are listed at Grade II on the National Heritage List for England 3 Contents 1 History 1 1 Foundation 1 2 Rebuilds 2 Bells 3 Primary school 4 Notable people 4 1 Notable clergy 4 2 Notable parishioners 5 Gallery 6 References 7 External linksHistory EditFoundation Edit Sir Aubrey de Vere was a Norman knight who was rewarded with the manor of Kensington among other estates after the successful Norman Conquest Around 1100 his eldest son Godfrey great uncle of Aubrey 1st Earl of Oxford 4 was taken seriously ill and cared for by Faritius abbot of the Benedictine Abbey of St Mary at Abingdon After a period of remission Godfrey de Vere died in 1106 aged about 19 2 The de Vere family s gratitude to the abbey for their son s care was recognised by its bequest of land 270 acres 1 1 km2 In 1262 the abbey founded a church and parish in Kensington dedicated to St Mary The epithet of Abbots is deemed to derive from its link with the ancient Abingdon Abbey rather than that subsequently with the diocese of the Bishop of London However this led to a dispute with the bishop and legal action followed in the diocesan consistory court This resulted in the patronage of the church passing to the bishop in perpetuity but rights over the surrounding land remaining with the abbey 2 The succession of vicars is recorded in a direct line back to this foundation in 1262 Rebuilds Edit Old St Mary Abbots Church in 1869 shortly before its demolition In 1370 the Norman church was rebuilt 2 When William III relocated the Royal Court to Kensington Palace in 1689 the area became fashionable rendering the medieval church too small thus it was demolished at the end of the 17th century and replaced by a Late Renaissance style building This in turn proved too small as London urbanised in the 19th century Around 1860 the vicar Archdeacon William Sinclair launched a campaign for the building of a striking new church The architect George Gilbert Scott was engaged and recommended the demolition of the existing church to take advantage of the site at the road junction St Mary Abbot s design is almost certainly influenced by Scott s earlier work on Dunblane Cathedral its west front s tall window and carved tympanum are similar to those in the Cathedral The 278 ft 85 m high spire is clearly influenced by that of St Mary Redcliffe Bristol 2 The present church retains many fittings from the earlier churches especially funeral monuments from the mid 17th century onwards In June 2015 the church launched a major fundraising appeal looking to raise around 7 2m 5 to be spent on restoring the church and improving it as a community hub Bells EditThe tower holds a ring of ten bells hung for change ringing Five of these bells the fourth fifth sixth eighth and ninth of the current ring date from 1772 and were cast by Thomas Janaway The other five the treble second third seventh and tenor were cast in 1879 by John Warner amp Sons 6 The five bells were funded through a donation by Phyllis Cunliffe 1890 1974 mother to Christopher Ironside UK decimal coin designer Primary school EditThe church has an associated primary school in its churchyard founded in 1707 as a charity school 7 The school buildings were designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor in 1711 but demolished in the 1870s to make way for a town hall The present buildings date from 1875 and are notable for the painted stone statues by Thomas Eustace of a boy and girl dating from about 1715 8 now on the north face of the school its playgrounds intersperse with the churchyard and the school maintains close links with the Church of England 9 10 Notable people EditNotable clergy Edit Canon Donald Allchin theologian served his curacy here from 1956 to 1960Notable parishioners Edit Joseph Addison David Cameron George Canning Tennessee Claflin married Sir Francis Cook 1st Baronet at the church in 1885 Alec Clifton Taylor Edmund Fanning Michael Gove Adrian Hardy Haworth P D James John Lockwood Kipling and Alice Kipling parents of Rudyard Kipling married at the church in 1865 Thomas Babington Macaulay Sir Isaac Newton commemorated by a window in the north transept Beatrix Potter William Thackeray William Wilberforce Diana Princess of Wales in 1997 the church became a focus for mourners Gallery Edit West stained glass window Altar and nave Nave wide angle view Church entrance and cloisterReferences Edit Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Churches rbkc gov uk Accessed 29 July 2019 a b c d e f g h Lloyd Dr Russell January 2004 The Early Churches of Kensington www stmaryabbotschurch org St Mary Abbots parish Retrieved 7 November 2009 Historic England Parish church of St Mary Abbot and railings to churchyard 1239529 National Heritage List for England retrieved 7 January 2016 British History Online Kensington british history ac uk Accessed 29 July 2019 St Mary Abbots Appeal stmaryabbotsappeal com Archived from the original on 5 June 2015 Kensington S Mary Abbots Dove s Guide for Church Bell Ringers 28 August 2006 British History Online The village centres around St Mary Abbots church and Notting Hill Gate british history ac uk Accessed 29 July 2019 Grouped Pieces and Miscellaneous Items rbkc gov uk Accessed 29 July 2019 Children St Mary Abbots Parish Church Kensington smanews weebly com Archived from the original on 10 May 2011 St Mary Abbots Primary School webfronter com Archived from the original on 20 August 2012 Allchin A M 1960 St Mary Abbots Kensington a brief history and guide Favil Press External links Edit Christianity portal London portal Wikimedia Commons has media related to St Mary Abbots Kensington Official website www london anglican orgCoordinates 51 30 08 N 0 11 30 W 51 50222 N 0 19167 W 51 50222 0 19167 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title St Mary Abbots amp oldid 1120600115, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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