St Mary Abbots Church

St Mary Abbots is a massive church, ( Church of England ), and a haven of peace and quiet in busy Kensington. Lunchtime concerts by students at The Royal College of Music. Always open. The present church was designed by the architect Sir Gilbert Scott , and was finally completed around 1893 , including the south porch and the cloister. The spire is 278ft ( 84.73m ). The churchyard was closed for burials in 1853. The walls of the Church are built of London stock brick, faced externally with Kentish Ragstone, with Bath stone dressings. The earliest mention of Kensington Church ( as it was first known ) is found in a charter of 1102 , and it is very probable that there was a church here even before that date , since there is a mention of a priest at Cheniston , in the Domesday Book. The name St Mary Abbots derives from it's medieval ownership by Abingdon Abbey. The pulpit ,1697, from the old church , is said to have been the gift of William III. The two churchwardens' staves date from 1792 , with their silver crowns topped by the figure of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The brass Eagle lectern is dated 1873. Font by Farmer and Brindley, a large marble bowl with figures of the rivers of Paradise. The tall openwork cover of wrought iron was added in 1881. The south chancel chapel was remodelled as a war memorial chapel in 1920 - 1921 by Giles Gilbert Scott. The Revd Wilson Carlile was a curate at St Mary Abbots in 1880. He held open air religious meetings in Kensington High Street and Notting Hill. He resigned his curacy to devote his time to slum missions , and went on to found The Church Army . The pipe organ no longer works , a new one would befit this church. Appreciate the serenity, the architecture and the interesting memorials.

St Mary Abbots is a massive church, ( Church of England ), and a haven of peace and quiet in busy Kensington. Lunchtime concerts by students at The Royal College of Music. Always open. The present church was designed by the architect Sir Gilbert Scott , and was finally completed around 1893 , including the south porch and the cloister. The spire is 278ft ( 84.73m ). The churchyard was closed for burials in 1853. The walls of the Church are built of London stock brick, faced externally with Kentish Ragstone, with Bath stone dressings. The earliest mention of Kensington Church ( as it was first known ) is found in a charter of 1102 , and it is very probable that there was a church here even before that date , since there is a mention of a priest at Cheniston , in the Domesday Book. The name St Mary Abbots derives from it's medieval ownership by Abingdon Abbey. The pulpit ,1697, from the old church , is said to have been the gift of William III. The two churchwardens' staves date from 1792 , with their silver crowns topped by the figure of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The brass Eagle lectern is dated 1873. Font by Farmer and Brindley, a large marble bowl with figures of the rivers of Paradise. The tall openwork cover of wrought iron was added in 1881. The south chancel chapel was remodelled as a war memorial chapel in 1920 - 1921 by Giles Gilbert Scott. The Revd Wilson Carlile was a curate at St Mary Abbots in 1880. He held open air religious meetings in Kensington High Street and Notting Hill. He resigned his curacy to devote his time to slum missions , and went on to found The Church Army . The pipe organ no longer works , a new one would befit this church. Appreciate the serenity, the architecture and the interesting memorials.