Stamford Brook: St Mary
Overview
Grid reference: TQ 219 792
Built of red brick in Early English lancet style, the church of St. Mary is like so many others constructed during the latter half of the nineteenth century in the suburbs of London. Stone has been used on the buttresses and the window ledges; and bands of dark brick arched above the windows and in string courses below provide the colour contrast among the expanses of red brick walls which are broken only by plain lancet windows.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Aisled nave with transepts; chancel; south porch; north-west baptistry; small, west bell turret.
Description of Archaeology and History
The foundation stone was laid by the Duchess of Teck on 23rd August, 1886. The nave and aisles were built by the end of the year, and the chancel was added later. The architect was Charles J. Gladman.
Exterior Description
Built of red brick in Early English lancet style, the church of St. Mary is like so many others constructed during the latter half of the nineteenth century in the suburbs of London. Stone has been used on the buttresses and the window ledges; and bands of dark brick arched above the windows and in string courses below provide the colour contrast among the expanses of red brick walls which are broken only by plain lancet windows. At clerestory level, each side has four bays of two windows, while the aisles have three bays of three windows. On the south side, the western bay is taken up by the south porch. Its doorway is quite steeply gabled, and its moulded brick arches rest on stone columnar imposts. The western doorway beneath the three large stepped lancets is identical. Opposite the porch, the western bay of the north aisle is occupied by a small almost round baptistry with a conical roof. The transepts have three stepped lancets each, a little smaller than those at the west end. But there is a departure from the lancet style at the east end, where the apsidal chancel has three windows each of two lights with a large tracery quatrefoil in the head. The roofs are steeply pitched and covered with grey slate tiles. At the west end of the nave roof is a small open bell turret with a broach shaped spire that has the same slate tile.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
In the baptistry are three small windows in memory. of Charlotte Isabella Newman, beloved wife and comrade for 59 years of Philip Henry Newman, Artist Painter and herself an Artist, Painter and Designer of great merit, died 1920. Each of the windows portrays a different baptismal scene the central one being that of Christ.
Stained Glass
In the south aisle eastern bay are three windows in memory of Henry Byerley Thomson, vicar 1921-1928. The text is 'Suffer the little children/ to come unto me/ and forbid them not.' The subjects are a woman with a child, Christ with two children, and a saint watching in a brown robe.
Stained Glass
In the south aisle is a window of St. John wearing a bright green cloak. It is in memory of the Rev. Charles Neil, b.1841, d.1924. He was vicar of London parishes for 50 years, eighteen of which wore spent at St. Mary's.
Stained Glass
At the chancel east end only the central two lights contain stained glass. The side pairs have geometrical patterns of coloured glass. In the quatrefoil is Christ Crucified. Above and below the central panels of the two main lights there is strikingly coloured grisaille work.
Interior
Interior Description
The church is said to have been designed on strictly Evangelical principles, and the interior would certainly bear out that comment, with its wide nave and wide transepts, its narrow aisles and its shallow sanctuary. The nave has five-bay arcades of wide, chamfered arches resting on round stone columns with moulded capitals and plinths. The arches dividing the transepts from the nave are taller and wider than the others. Above them are two, rounded triangular openings. This design is repeated in the east and west walls of both transepts, where one of each pair is blind and the other has glass, and in the chancel above the north and south arches. The chancel arch is tall, and leads into a comparatively small chancel. To the north is a blind arch with the vestry area behind: to the south is the organ chamber. Extending round the chancel is a deep band of ornamental plasterwork that from a distance looks like diapering. In fact, on each of the two and a half inch squares that make up this frieze are four petals superimposedon a curling diamond shape.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
The altar is a small, solid wooden table.
Reredos
Behind the altar, the reredos is set into the wall - a blind arcade of three stone arches. Within each arch are paintings on hardboard.
Rail
The Communion rails are of wood on wrought iron stanchions - quite plain in design
Lectern
The lectern has a gilt brass desk on a spiral stem with the tripod type of base. Of common design.
Pulpit
The polygonal stone pulpit, with a blind two-arched arcade each side, rests on a heavy thick plinth of brick.
Organ (object)
The organ is by H. Jones & Sons, South Kensington, London. It has two manuals and 22 stops.
Font (object)
The font is an the tiny baptistry on the north side of the church towards the west end. It has a plain octagonal bowl made of stone.
Font (component)
The flat wooden cover was given in memory of a Church Treasurer, 1930-1956.
Churchyard
Grid reference: TQ 219 792
Burial and War Grave Information
It is unknown whether the building is consecrated.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has war graves.
National Heritage record for England designations
There are no records of National Heritage assets within the curtilage of this site.
Environment
Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
There are no records of Ancient, Veteran or Notable Trees within the curtilage of this site.
Renewables
| Renewable | Installed |
|---|---|
| Solar PV Panels | N/A |
| Solar Thermal Panels | N/A |
| Biomass | N/A |
| Wind Turbine | N/A |
| Air Source Heat Pump | N/A |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | N/A |
| Ev Charging | N/A |
Species summary
There are no records of species within the curtilage of this site.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
'Seek advice' Species
More information on species and action to be taken upon discovery.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
Further information
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