St Margaret's Church - Barking, London, UK
N 51° 32.140 E 000° 04.539
31U E 297191 N 5713450
St Margaret's Anglican church lies to the west of the town centre and is located between Broadway and North Street to the east and Abbey Road to the west in an area known as Abbey Green.
Waymark Code: WMJ2PQ
Location: London, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 09/13/2013
Views: 2
St Margaret's website tells us:
History of St Margaret's
Barking Abbey was founded by the Saxon Lord Erkenwald in 666AD, he later
became Bishop of London. The Abbey became very rich and influential because
of its royal patronages. It was closed in 1539 and demolished soon after.
Today only the Curfew Tower remains standing and an outline of some of the
buildings is also visible. The area is maintained as a green public open
space by the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham.
The Parish Church of St Margaret of Antioch is situated in the grounds on
the south side of the Abbey ruins.
Captain James Cook the explorer was married here on 21st December 1762.
The last Steward of the Abbey, William Pounsett was given the right to
appoint the Vicar of St Margaret's a right now Shared by All Souls
College, Oxford, the Bishop of Chelmsford and our Churchwardens. Three
marble slabs on the Wall of the North porch give the names and date of
appointment of all the recorded Vicars of Barking from 1315 to now.
The oldest part of the present building is thought to be the Chancel which
was built in the early 1200's during King John's reign. The church began
life as a chapel for the local people and worship was lead by a chaplain
from the Abbey.
The Bell Tower was added in the late 1400's and houses a Peal of 8 bells. In
1772 the ceilings of the Nave, Chancel and Sanctuary were covered in
plaster, which was removed from the Nave in 1842.
In 1991 an extension was added to the south side to improve the facilities.
The Centre houses the Church office, Dove Bookshop and Refectory.
Refreshments and lunches are served in the Refectory on weekdays.
The church has a number of interesting memorials and benefaction boards.
These record the lives of many local people both from Barking and the
surrounding areas of Beehive, Ilford, Parsloes and Dagenham, reminding us
that the influence of the Abbey covered a wide area. These provide us with
information about the churches links with the City of London, in particular
the Poulters Livery Company, and of the fishing industry that flourished in
Barking until the railways came.
The War Memorial in the Inner North Aisle has a new wreath placed on it each
Remembrance Sunday by the British Legion and reminds us of those who gave
their lives in the service of their country in the two World Wars.
A number of Saxon relics can be found around the church and some interesting
stained glass windows. The Fisherman's Window in the Youth Chapel was
designed by the Architect and Designer-Craftsman George Jack, who worked for
the William Morris Company and was a significant figure in the Arts and
Crafts movement.
The church organ is now located in the Inner North Aisle having been moved
from a gallery at the West End. It has three keyboards, pedals and an
impressive case and pipes from an earlier 18th Century instrument.
The church is Grade I listed with the entry at the
English Heritage website telling us:
C13 and later, mainly C15. Complex history. Flint and
ragstone rubble walls. Reigate stone ashlar tower. Crenellated 3 stage
western tower with taller stair turret dating from mid-C15. Chancel-C13 with
later nave and aisles utilising earlier C12 columns. Fine mediaeval roofs to
nave and north aisle. Plaster ceiling of 1772 to chancel. Outer north aisle
and chapel added in stages in C16 using debris from destroyed Abbey.
Outstanding series of monuments and fittings including early C17 octagonal
moulded font, good brasses, late C16 funeral helm and early C19 seating
incorporating C18 woodwork.
The
church's website lists the services held:
Services at St Margaret's
All are warmly welcome
Sunday
8:30am: Holy Communion - a quiet service with a sermon
11:00am:
First Sunday: All-age worship
Second and Fourth Sundays: Holy Communion
Third Sunday: Morning worship with the offer of prayer for healing
Children's and Young People's Groups, including Creche, Dove Club and 3:16
on all Sundays except the first.
6:30pm: Evening Service - A more traditional service with a robed choir.:
1st Sunday: Holy Communion
2nd and 4th Sundays: Book of Common Prayer Evensong
3rd Sunday: Common Worship Evening Prayer
Wednesday
12.30pm: Midweek Holy Communion Service
Friday
10.00am: Holy Communion service