St Mary Magdalen Woolwich
Encyclopedia
St Mary Magdalen Woolwich is an Anglican
church dedicated to Mary Magdalen in Woolwich
, sited at the extremity of a spur reaching northwards towards the Thames. The original church was built some time before the 12th century (possibly even as early as the 9th century), though by the 18th century its Elizabethan spire had collapsed and the foundations were showing other signs of strain.
Thus a new church (the present one) was built near the medieval church's site in 1732 to 1739, with dedication occurring on May 9, 1740. The new church was part-funded by the Commission for Building Fifty New Churches
and built by Matthew Spray (though the designer's name remains unknown). It is brick-built, with clay tiles (though it has Portland stone
plinth cappings, coping
s, window surrounds and cornice
s).
To its basic nave, galleried aisles and west-end tower have been added a chancel (1894, by J.O. Scott, with Bath stone
buttress capping and band courses), a Lady Chapel (containing the tomb of Henry Maudslay
, designed by himself), organ chamber and sanctuary, all in the 19th century. Also in this era, a rail-mounted moveable pulpit was installed, funded by a public subscription on Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. Thomas Ford shut off the aisles and galleries to make a cafe and offices in 1961, before adding new vestries in 1965 and converting the crypt into a Youth Club in 1967. In the 1970s the church was merged into the three church Parish of Woolwich. From 1965 to 2001, the local Presbyterian church also met here.
It was Grade B listed in 1954, and its churchyard is now a public garden.
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
church dedicated to Mary Magdalen in Woolwich
Woolwich
Woolwich is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.Woolwich formed part of Kent until 1889 when the County of London was created...
, sited at the extremity of a spur reaching northwards towards the Thames. The original church was built some time before the 12th century (possibly even as early as the 9th century), though by the 18th century its Elizabethan spire had collapsed and the foundations were showing other signs of strain.
Thus a new church (the present one) was built near the medieval church's site in 1732 to 1739, with dedication occurring on May 9, 1740. The new church was part-funded by the Commission for Building Fifty New Churches
Commission for Building Fifty New Churches
The Commission for Building Fifty New Churches was an organisation set up by Act of Parliament in England in 1711, with the purpose of building fifty new churches for the rapidly growing conurbation of London...
and built by Matthew Spray (though the designer's name remains unknown). It is brick-built, with clay tiles (though it has Portland stone
Portland stone
Portland stone is a limestone from the Tithonian stage of the Jurassic period quarried on the Isle of Portland, Dorset. The quarries consist of beds of white-grey limestone separated by chert beds. It has been used extensively as a building stone throughout the British Isles, notably in major...
plinth cappings, coping
Coping (architecture)
Coping , consists of the capping or covering of a wall.A splayed or wedge coping slopes in a single direction; a saddle coping slopes to either side of a central high point....
s, window surrounds and cornice
Cornice
Cornice molding is generally any horizontal decorative molding that crowns any building or furniture element: the cornice over a door or window, for instance, or the cornice around the edge of a pedestal. A simple cornice may be formed just with a crown molding.The function of the projecting...
s).
To its basic nave, galleried aisles and west-end tower have been added a chancel (1894, by J.O. Scott, with Bath stone
Bath Stone
Bath Stone is an Oolitic Limestone comprising granular fragments of calcium carbonate. Originally obtained from the Combe Down and Bathampton Down Mines under Combe Down, Somerset, England, its warm, honey colouring gives the World Heritage City of Bath, England its distinctive appearance...
buttress capping and band courses), a Lady Chapel (containing the tomb of Henry Maudslay
Henry Maudslay
Henry Maudslay was a British machine tool innovator, tool and die maker, and inventor. He is considered a founding father of machine tool technology.-Early life:...
, designed by himself), organ chamber and sanctuary, all in the 19th century. Also in this era, a rail-mounted moveable pulpit was installed, funded by a public subscription on Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. Thomas Ford shut off the aisles and galleries to make a cafe and offices in 1961, before adding new vestries in 1965 and converting the crypt into a Youth Club in 1967. In the 1970s the church was merged into the three church Parish of Woolwich. From 1965 to 2001, the local Presbyterian church also met here.
It was Grade B listed in 1954, and its churchyard is now a public garden.