| Saint Mary | |
|---|---|
| St Mary’s Church Hanwell | |
 | |
  Saint Mary | |
| 51°30′49.51″N0°20′51.4″W / 51.5137528°N 0.347611°W /51.5137528; -0.347611 | |
| OS grid reference | TQ 147 807 |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Website | http://www.stmaryshanwell.org.uk/index.php |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Founded | approx. 954 AD ? |
| Founder | St. Dunstan? |
| Consecrated | Present building: 27 April 1842 (1842-04-27) |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Architect | George Gilbert Scott with W.B. Moffatt |
| Style | MainlyGothic Revival with some interiorGeorgian elements. |
| Construction cost | £2,369(Two thousand, three hundred and sixty-ninePounds sterling) |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 400 |
| Number of floors | Two |
| Floor area | 518.04 square metres (5,576.1 sq ft) |
| Number of spires | One |
| Materials | Flint-rubble and mortar, white brick quioning and stone dressings. |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Diocese of London |
| Deanery | Ealing (West) |
| Parish | Hanwell |
| Clergy | |
| Rector | Andrew Dand |
| Vicar | Susy Dand |
| Curate | Stephanie Alvis |
| Laity | |
| Organ scholar | . Lee |
| Churchwarden | Gareth Bevan – Helen White |
St Mary's Parish Church is aChurch of England church situated at the western end of Church Road inHanwell, WestLondon. It dates back to at least the 12th century.
Built upon the highest point in Hanwell and providing a commanding view out over theRiver Brent valley, it is the perfect site for a parish church. No 'hard' archaeological evidence has been found so far, to show that any church existed here earlier than shown in written records. However, due to its commandingtopographical position, which enables the distinctivebroach spire to be seen from many miles away, it has been suggested that this may have been apagan place of worship long beforeChristianity reached this part of the world. There is however, no evidence to support this theory. An early supporter of thishypothesis was SirMontagu Sharpe KC DL, a local historian and a member of theSociety of Antiquaries.[1] In nearbyNortholt, the parish church of St. Mary, which is also on high ground, has had much evidence found around it of past occupation by theBeaker people. Historians have further suggested that a Roman villa may have once occupied the site of that church. These two elevated sites along with nearbySt. Mary's, Harrow on the Hill andCastle Bar, all being clearly visible to each other, would have been natural places for people to congregate, whatever their beliefs.
Sharpe also pointed out, other possible evidence of the parishes pre-Christian origins. The field boundaries of Hanwell, (the hedges of which, have since been mostly grubbed out), were roughly of the same measurements and orientation of the Roman 'limes' or land divisions. Even more tantalizing he observed: that atexactly the north east corner stood the gate and path ofPerivale's parish church of St. Mary's. Had these hedges still been in existence today, it would have been possible to perform an accurate statistical analysis of the field lines to determine theprobability against pure chance that these fields were laid out by Roman surveyors.
It is possible that the first church to be built at this place in Hanwell was in the time ofSt. Dunstan around 954 AD but records are sparse and inconclusive. The first firm evidence of a church here, is for the mid 12th century when it was the mother church for theancient parish, of these parts, which in those days extended further south, down to the riverThames at what is now calledNew Brentford.[2]
Despite a gallery being built in 1823 the oldGeorgian building became too small for the growing population. Therefore, a decision was made to replace it with a new and larger church. ArchitectGeorge Gilbert Scott won the commission for the design. The Gothic style of architecture was enjoying a revival and so Scott used Gothic arches and flint walls with white bricksquoins. A notable and widely visible landmark from its high elevation, the bell tower, at the south west end, is topped with abroach spire. It was consecrated byCharles James Blomfield theBishop of London on 27 April 1842.
This was one of Scott's early attempts at designing churches and one that he came not to be happy with; describing it later asa mass of horrors. He came to realise that it was something of a mistake not to have a chancel. However, a chancel and a second vestry (by W. Pywell) were added in 1898.
The famous painterWilliam Frederick Yeames, who at one time was this building's churchwarden, is thought to have done the wall paintings in thechancel.[3]
The east stained glass lancet windows are notable for their early use of very vivid, hard, bright colours.The design depicts theNativity,Crucifixion andResurrection.
In the graveyard is a monument to the Glasse family.English Heritage has given it a Grade II listing.
The great reformerJonas Hanway who was buried here in the crypt on 13 September 1786 has his memorial plaque in Westminster Abbey instead.[4]
Behind the pulpit there is a fine memorial to Margaret Emma Orde, wife toSir John Orde, 1st Baronet. It is sculptured by van Gilder who often worked withRobert Adam.
At the western end on the south side is a bronze bust of the missionary Rev. Alec Field. He was killed on the steamshipFalaba, whichU-28 torpedoed in 1915.[5] Alice Wait, a fellow missionary, has given an account of the warning, attack and sinking and of the last time she saw Rev. Fields.[6]
Inside the church in the north east corner is a plaque to commemorateBombardier Billy Wells. He was an English heavyweight boxer but remembered today asthe man striking the gong at the start of each film released by theRank Organisation. He was often to be seen on the local golf course and his ashes now rest in the crypt.
Perhaps the most famous rector wasDr. George H. Glasse. Son of the previous rector Rev. Samuel Glasse, D.D. Oxon., F.R.S., George was a great Greek and Latin scholar, writer and a man of social influence.[4] Still surviving is the home he had built in 1809 which lies 500 ft west of the church along Church Road. It is executed in the style ofcottage orné and named The Hermitage (Grade II).Nikolaus Pevsner described it thus: “a peach of anearly c19 Gothic thatched cottage with two pointed windows, aquatrefoil, and anogee arched door, all on a minute scale. Inside, anoctagonal hall and reception room”.[7] Tragically, four years after his second marriage, he found himself in dire financial straits. These troubles were thought to have weighed so heavily upon him, that whilst his mind was deranged with worry, he hanged himself at an inn in London on 30 October 1809.[8]
Rev.Derwent Coleridge (instituted 7 March 1864) was also a distinguished scholar and author. His father wasSamuel Taylor Coleridge who was one of theLake poets. In order to meet the spiritual needs of the growing population of the parish he established St. Mark's Church on the corner of Green Lane and the Lower Boston Road. This building still stands but has since been converted into flats.
In latter years another well-known rector wasFred Secombe (brother ofHarry Secombe). He arrived 9 March 1969. By the time of his departure he had already been mentioned on several national news reports. After leaving and moving back toWales, he became a prolific author. John Weeks was then here in the 1980s.
In more recent times, Matthew Grayshon was the rector for 23 years. He is now the vicar of St Marys Church Amport in Winchester. The current incumbent is Andrew Dand who joined St Mary's in June 2017 from St Stephen's in West Ealing. Susy Dand is now associate vicar and is part of the Youth team. Stephanie Alvis is the Curate and Alison Ingram is a Ordinand. Susan is the admin person and oversees the church hall bookings.
St Mary's has the advantage of having no passing traffic which allows filming uninterrupted by traffic noise. The following have been filmed there:
