St Matthias' Church, Stoke Newington
St Matthias Stoke Newington | |
---|---|
Hackney | |
Deanery | Hackney |
Parish | St Matthias Stoke Newington |
Clergy | |
Vicar(s) | Fr David Lambert (July 2005) |
Laity | |
Organist(s) | Stephen Jasper BA AMus (September 1987) |
St Matthias' Church is a
History
The parish of St Matthias Stoke Newington was created in 1849, out of the parish of Stoke Newington and a parcel of 'detached' land belonging to Hornsey parish. The patron of the new parish - responsible for appointing the clergy - was alternately the Crown and the Bishop of London.[1]
The impressive church building was designed by
Under the incumbency of Rev. Charles James Le Geyt, the ritualist, high church, tone of the services sparked off strong protests. In October 1867 the church was surrounded by a mob hundreds strong, protesting, and the vicar shouted at during the service. After the service the mob had grown and parishioners "roughly handled". It then tried to storm Brett's house, to be repelled by the police.[3] After a subsequent anti-Ritualist demonstration in London Fields a large crowd processed towards St Matthias, one man dressed in a cardinal's cap, shouting "Attack the Church", "Down with St Matthias" and "Down with Le Geyt's house". A large police force with a reserve of 400 men were outside Le Geyt's house and the mob, again, dispersed having let out three large groans of protest at Le Geyt's High Church tendencies.[4]
The building suffered from aerial bombing during the
After the war the patronage of the living was transferred to the
In 2022 it was hosting performances by musicians.
Description of the current building
The strongly individual building is of
A programme of repairs is ongoing, funded by the parish with assistance from the
References
- ^ a b c A P Baggs, Diane K Bolton and Patricia E C Croot, 'Stoke Newington: Churches', in A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 8, Islington and Stoke Newington Parishes, ed. T F T Baker and C R Elrington (London, 1985), pp. 204-211. British History Online, website, accessed 28 June 2019.
- ^ Alex Allardyce The Village that Changed the World: a history of Newington Green London N16. (London: Newington Green Action Group, 2008) p33.
- ^ West London Observer 19 October 1867, page 4
- ^ West London Observer 26 October 1867, page 2
- ^ Bridget Cherry and Nikolaus Pevsner. 'St Matthias' in London 4: North (Yale University Press: New Javen and London, 2002), p.535. Series: The Buildings of England.
- ^ Royal Institute of British Architects Library. Church of St Matthias, Stoke Newington, London [...] by N. F. Cachemaille-Day photographed by Halifax Photos Ltd and Wallace Heaton Ltd. - 12 photoprints: b&w. Record control no.: P006073.
- ^ Historic England: Church of St Matthias, website, accessed 25 June 2019
- ^ Historic England: Church of St Matthias, Wordsworth Road, Stoke Newington N16 - Hackney, website, accessed 25 June 2019
Further reading
- T. Francis Bumpus. An historical London church. A record of sixty-five years' life and work in the church and parish of S Matthias, Stoke Newington. (London: Jonathan King, 1913)
- T. Francis Bumpus. London churches ancient & modern. Second series: classical & modern. (London : T. Werner Laurie, 1908)