St. Mary's Plaistow

St. Marys Plaistow

Visit to St. Mary's Plaistow - Tuesday 20th May 2014

On 15th September 1863, under the eyes of its first vicar, the Rev. Reuben Graham, the Archbishop of Canterbury consecrated the new building erected to relieve pressure on the Parish Church (St. Peter and St. Paul) and provide a place of worship for the northern part of the district.

The new church consisted only of what is now the nave and it was unheated, unlit and undecorated and had used up all the £3,000 or so which had been collected, mostly from wealthy local property owners. Over the next twenty years, as money became available, the chancel and north and south transepts were added, including an imposing portico intended to be the main entrance. It never fulfilled that purpose and until the 1970s, church goers continued to use the small, dark door near the bell tower with it single bell. This has now been enhanced with a wood and glass entrance.

Although various plans were mooted to build aisles along the nave, provide a spire and make other additions, the main glory of St. Mary's are its stained glass windows and the painted decorations of the chancel. These were nearly all paid for by Mr Murray Richardson who also donated the reredos (behind the altar) as well as other items. In this year commemorating World War 1, it is interesting to note that in addition to the usual tablet listing the fallen, the pulpit also forms part of the commemoration.

Click on an image below to see a larger version - you can then move forward or back using the arrows on either side.

A external view of the nave and north transept. The undecorated wall just visible below the "fleche" was planned as a north aisle.
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The font, not the original but bearing wartime bullet scars.
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Although, geographically it faces almost due north, the East Window, paid for by Lady Scott in memory of her her husband Sir Edward, the owner of Sundridge Park, is the most dramatic. The previous window was moved to the north transept.
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Members of BBLHS, with their knowledgeable guide and former church warden Mary Hardcastle, examine the highly decorated chancel and the East Window and reredos. The organ pipes are just visible on the right.
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A stained glass windows depicting the Adoration of the Magi.
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A view of the chancel .
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A stained glass windows with the turning of water into wine at the wedding at Cana.
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The huge original Vicarage, on the south side of the Church, was built in 1886. It remained in use as such until 1942 when a smaller property was purchased in London Lane and the building became Church House, available for meetings and other church related activities.
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