St Mary on Paddington Green Church
Encyclopedia
St Mary on Paddington Green is an Anglican church in the Parish of Little Venice
, London
and forms part of Paddington Green conservation area
. It stands on the junction of Edgware Road and Harrow Road
, overlooking Westway
.
It is the third church on the site – once forming a centrepiece of the ancient Paddington and Lilestone villages. John Donne
preached his first sermon in the original church, while William Hogarth
was married in the second.
The current church is Georgian
and was commissioned in 1788 and consecrated in 1791. Designed by John Plaw
, and with a floorplan in the shape of a Greek Cross, it is built in yellow brick and dressed with white stone. It is Plaw's only confirmed surviving building in the UK, apart from Belle Isle
on Windermere
. A further building in Romford
, known as The Round House, has been atrributed to the architect. John Plaw later worked in Southampton
before emigrating to Canada
, where he designed several public and private buildings.
The church was substantially altered in the 19th century, but was restored by architect Raymond Erith
in the early 1970s. The church is notable for its fine monuments to local luminaries, including sculptor Joseph Nollekens
and lexicographer Peter Mark Roget.
is located towards the northern end. Some other gravestones from the former graveyard are stacked against the west wall of the Gardens.
The southern part of the Churchyard was removed to make way for Marylebone Flyover
in the 1960s, with exhumed bodies being re-interred in an area of Mill Hill
cemetery and marked with a plaque.
Maida Vale
Maida Vale is a residential district in West London between St John's Wood and Kilburn. It is part of the City of Westminster. The area is mostly residential, and mainly affluent, consisting of many large late Victorian and Edwardian blocks of mansion flats...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and forms part of Paddington Green conservation area
Paddington Green conservation area
Paddington Green conservation area is a green space and geographic location in Westminster located off Edgware Road and adjacent to Westway. It is the oldest part of Paddington and became a separate conservation area in 1988, having previously formed part of Maida Vale conservation area...
. It stands on the junction of Edgware Road and Harrow Road
Harrow Road
The Harrow Road is an ancient route in Greater London which runs from Paddington in a northwesterly direction to Harrow. With minor deviations in the 19th and 20th centuries, the route remains otherwise unaltered...
, overlooking Westway
Westway (London)
The Westway is a long elevated dual carriageway section of the A40 route in west London running from Paddington to North Kensington. The road was constructed between 1964 and 1970 to relieve congestion at Shepherd's Bush caused by traffic from Western Avenue struggling to enter central London on...
.
It is the third church on the site – once forming a centrepiece of the ancient Paddington and Lilestone villages. John Donne
John Donne
John Donne 31 March 1631), English poet, satirist, lawyer, and priest, is now considered the preeminent representative of the metaphysical poets. His works are notable for their strong and sensual style and include sonnets, love poetry, religious poems, Latin translations, epigrams, elegies, songs,...
preached his first sermon in the original church, while William Hogarth
William Hogarth
William Hogarth was an English painter, printmaker, pictorial satirist, social critic and editorial cartoonist who has been credited with pioneering western sequential art. His work ranged from realistic portraiture to comic strip-like series of pictures called "modern moral subjects"...
was married in the second.
The current church is Georgian
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
and was commissioned in 1788 and consecrated in 1791. Designed by John Plaw
John Plaw (architect)
John Plaw was an architect who was born in London but later emigrated to Prince Edward Island in Canada. He is known for favouring circular designs in the classical style.There are two known surviving examples of his work in the UK...
, and with a floorplan in the shape of a Greek Cross, it is built in yellow brick and dressed with white stone. It is Plaw's only confirmed surviving building in the UK, apart from Belle Isle
Belle Isle (Windermere)
Belle Isle is the largest of 18 islands on Windermere, a lake in the English Lake District, and the only one ever to have been inhabited. It is 1 km in length. Belle Isle House was built in 1774 to designs by John Plaw...
on Windermere
Windermere
Windermere is the largest natural lake of England. It is also a name used in a number of places, including:-Australia:* Lake Windermere , a reservoir, Australian Capital Territory * Lake Windermere...
. A further building in Romford
Romford
Romford is a large suburban town in north east London, England and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Havering. It is located northeast of Charing Cross and is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan...
, known as The Round House, has been atrributed to the architect. John Plaw later worked in Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
before emigrating to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, where he designed several public and private buildings.
The church was substantially altered in the 19th century, but was restored by architect Raymond Erith
Raymond Erith
Raymond Erith was an English architect known for his restorations and work in a traditional styles. Critic Ian Nairn described his work as "genuinely Georgian, not 'neo'".He formed the partnership Erith & Terry with his pupil Quinlan Terry....
in the early 1970s. The church is notable for its fine monuments to local luminaries, including sculptor Joseph Nollekens
Joseph Nollekens
Joseph Nollekens was a sculptor from London generally considered to be the finest British sculptor of the late 18th century. He was also a founder member of the Royal Academy in 1768.-Life:...
and lexicographer Peter Mark Roget.
St Mary’s Churchyard
Adjoining St Mary’s Churchyard was converted to a public park in the 1890s and is now known as St Mary’s Gardens. It consists of grassland with scattered trees. The grave of well known 18th century actor Sarah SiddonsSarah Siddons
Sarah Siddons was a Welsh actress, the best-known tragedienne of the 18th century. She was the elder sister of John Philip Kemble, Charles Kemble, Stephen Kemble, Ann Hatton and Elizabeth Whitlock, and the aunt of Fanny Kemble. She was most famous for her portrayal of the Shakespearean character,...
is located towards the northern end. Some other gravestones from the former graveyard are stacked against the west wall of the Gardens.
The southern part of the Churchyard was removed to make way for Marylebone Flyover
Westway (London)
The Westway is a long elevated dual carriageway section of the A40 route in west London running from Paddington to North Kensington. The road was constructed between 1964 and 1970 to relieve congestion at Shepherd's Bush caused by traffic from Western Avenue struggling to enter central London on...
in the 1960s, with exhumed bodies being re-interred in an area of Mill Hill
Mill Hill
Mill Hill is a place in the London Borough of Barnet. It is a suburb situated 9 miles north west of Charing Cross. Mill Hill was in the historic county of Middlesex until it was absorbed by London...
cemetery and marked with a plaque.