St Mary's Church, Barnes

St Mary's Church, Barnes, is the parish church of Barnes, formerly in Surrey and now in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is a Grade II* listed building.

St Mary's Barnes is a thriving Christian community with an electoral roll of 250 and strong links across the local community. Along with the parishes of St Michael and All Angels, Barnes and Holy Trinity Barnes it forms the Barnes Team Ministry; the current Team Rector is The Rev'd Calum Zuckert.

History The church was built of coursed flint some time between 1100 and 1150. It was enlarged and re-consecrated in 1215, after the signing of Magna Carta, by Cardinal Stephen Langton (c. 1150–1228), who was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1207 to 1228. It was extended to the west in the 13th century, and later to the east, creating a chancel. A west tower was added in the late 15th century. The north wall was demolished in the late 18th century to create a north aisle. The full set of eight bells in the tower was completed in 1897 to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria.

A major fire on 8 June 1978 destroyed parts of the church, but left the tower and Norman chapel almost intact. The church was restored by Edward Cullinan with the inclusion of elements of its former structure. The north wall contains a Gothic Revival east window. The church was re-dedicated in February 1984, with the original building now named as the Langton Chapel, commemorating Archbishop Stephen Langton. Doors in memory of Viera Gray were engraved by Josephine Harris.

Rectors

1635–1643 John Cutts (sequestered) —— 1660–1663† John Squire 1663–1680† Edward Layfield 1680–1681† Hezekiah Burton 1681–1717 William Richardson 1717–1727 Francis Hare (as Dean of Worcester, Dean of St Paul's from 1726) 1727–1730† Robert Kilborn 1730–1749† Samuel Baker 1749–1758 John Hume (as Bishop of Bristol from 1756) 1758–1768† Ferdinando Warner 1768–1792† Christopher Wilson (as Bishop of Bristol from 1783) 1792–1795 John Jeffreys 1795–1839 John Jeffreys (son of previous) 1840–1863 Reginald Edward Copleston 1863–1871† Henry Melvill 1871–1876 Peter Medd 1876–1884 John Ellerton 1885–1891† Lewis Taswell Lochee 1891–1892† William Anthony Harrison 1892–1923† Benjamin Meredyth Kitson 1923–1937 William Patrick Dott —— 1944-? Percy SteedCrockford's Shorter Directory, 1953-54, 1st Edition, p 190. 1956–1963 Arthur Christopher Heath 1963–1981† Basil WhitworthCrockford's Clerical Directory, 1973-74, 85th Edition, p 1030. 1981–1990 Juergen Simonson 1990–2001 Richard Ames-Lewis 2001–2010 Ross Collins 2010–2018 Richard Sewell 2019– James Hutchings

Notable burials Major General Roger Elliott (c. 1665–1714), who lived at Byfeld House in Church Road, Barnes, was buried in the churchyard in May 1714. John Moody (c. 1727–1812), actor, who lived at 11 The Terrace, Barnes, c.1780 until his death, is buried in the churchyard with his two wives. Abiezer Coppe One of the English Ranters and a writer of prophetic religious pamphlets.

References

Further reading Official Guidebook to The Parish Church of St. Mary, Barnes

Gallery

External links