St Mary Magdalen Bermondsey

St Mary Magdalen Bermondsey is a Anglican church dedicated to St Mary Magdalen in Bermondsey in south London. The present building is late 17th century and is Grade II* listed. Its parish extends as far as the Thames (including the south tower of Tower Bridge, City Hall and part of London Bridge Station). The parishes of St Olave Tooley Street, St Luke Grange Road and St John Horsleydown have all been merged into it.

History

The first church of this dedication on this site is recorded in 1290, serving lay workers at Bermondsey Abbey. Of this building only the late mediæval tower with a gothic window and arches were retained by the rebuilding completed in 1690, with the addition of a north gallery in 1705 and a south gallery in 1794. The South gallery retains its original boxed pews. More additions were made in 1829, removing the portico and school which extended into Bermondsey Street. The interior was redecorated in the Gothic Revival style in 1852 and in 1883 the chancel was lengthened and a new stained glass window was installed. Surviving the Blitz, the west end interior was damaged by fire in 1971. The original organ was installed in 1751 but was apparently replaced in 1851 by the current instrument.

The church is now the oldest building in the locality. Visible in the church are two fine carved stone capitals of mediæval date, which were discovered locally in the early 20th C and passed to the church for safe-keeping. These notable items are almost certainly parts of the structure of Bermondsey Abbey. The church also possesses an item of silver plate, called the Bermondsey Mazer, which is held in the care of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This is said to be the only surviving silver from Bermondsey Abbey.

The churchyard was closed for burials in 1854, in common with other London churchyards, being over-crowded and a thus health hazard. It contains a number of listed monuments, mostly tombs, and is now in the care of Southwark Council, title having been passed to the Vestry of Bermondsey in 1882. All the older church registers are held by the London Metropolitan Archives.

External links

* [http://www.stmarysbermondsey.org.uk/ Parish homepage]