The church's website (visit link) gives a
history of the church:
"St.Mary's was consecrated on 22nd October 1850. The
Boltons was originally a farm with the land used as market gardens. Robert
Gunter donated the site for the church. George Godwin, who also built the houses
in the Boltons and the neighbouring churches of St.Jude's, Courtfield Gardens,
and St.Luke's, Redcliffe Square, built the church. The initial cost of building
St.Mary's was £6,000, largely met by the then Perpetual Curate, Rev. Hogarth J.
Swale. The church is built in stone, Kentish rag capped with Bath stone
externally and Hassock internally. At one time all the windows had stained glass
and the walls were stencilled with designs of fruit and flowers.
Since 1850 there have been many changes. The spire of
the church was added in 1854. In 1902 the oak pews and floor tiling were
installed. Bombs during the war damaged the organ and roof as well as shattering
many of the windows. The church was reordered after the war with the high altar
being moved to below the crossing and the old sanctuary being converted into a
Lady Chapel. Here the sacrament is reserved. The present east window was
designed by Margaret Kaye and installed in 1955. In 1960 the original organ was
removed from the east end of the church and is now in St.Nicholas, Yarmouth
(Norfolk). A new gallery was built for the two manual Compton organ at the west
end. The west end window was put in to diffuse the light in order to keep the
organ in tune. Unfortunately, this did not work and a screen now obscures the
window from inside.
In 1972 St.Peter's, Cranley Gardens, was closed and is
now used by the Armenian Orthodox Church. The benefices were amalgamated and the
plate and vestments used at St. Mary's. As a result of the generosity of a
church member the fine brass eagle lectern from St.Peter's has been restored and
is now used at St.Mary's.
In 2001 a beautiful bronze sculpture, the Pieta by Naomi
Blake, FRBS, was placed in St. Luke’s Chapel to mark the 150th anniversary of
the opening of St. Mary’s.
In July 2006 the parish of St. Jude’s, Courtfield
Gardens, was merged into St. Mary’s Parish so that the parish doubled in
size.
St Mary The Boltons was built in 1850 as a
speculative gamble on behalf of a wealthy landowner. He wanted a church to lend
an air of respectability to attract house purchasers as he sought to change the
use of his land from market gardening to housing.
This study shows that St Mary's was the first of many
churches built in the countryside between the villages of Kensington and Chelsea
as London's population expanded westwards. It describes the cut-throat but
optimistic competition between churches which was such a feature of this part of
Victorian London. It outlines the huge building developments which transformed
the area around 'Little Chelsea' in little more than a decade.
For more than 150 years St Mary's fortunes have waxed
and waned between prosperity and abject poverty. Twice proposed by the wider
church for closure and merger with larger churches nearby, twice it refused to
accept that fate and survived.
St Mary's was once truly Kensington's 'church in the
country'. Today the trees and gardens surrounding it can still give that
impression. However, with its liberal tolerance, family orientation and
welcome-to-all approach, it now stands as a symbol of openness in an urban oasis
notable for immense wealth and fortress-like security. It is also inevitably
caught up in the huge uncertainties and difficulties confronting the Anglican
church today in this part of London and more widely. Which way will St Mary's
fortunes move now? This lively study, fresh with interesting detail of the
church, parish and surrounding area, discusses how and why St Mary's story has
unfolded within its local and wider context. It offers clues and lessons for its
people and the wider church as they seek answers to that
question."
The church is a Grade II listed building and the entry at
the English Heritage website (visit
link) has a brief entry that reads:
"Mid C19. Godwin. Rubblestone, ashlar dressings, slate
roof. Decorated Gothic style. Aisleless, 5 bay nave. Crossing, transepts.
Crossing tower with ashlar broach spire having curious octagonal stage instead
of lucarnes. Angel to parapet of latter. Bellcote to west end. Flowing tracery,
2-light to nave, 4-light to west end. C20 additions in keeping to south-east.
Church listed as integral part of The Boltons layout."
The church's website (visit link) carries
a list of church services:
"Regular Sunday
Services
8.00am Eucharist
10.30am Sung Eucharist and Sunday
School during term time
4.30pm Evening Prayer said (except during
August)
Weekday Services
Morning
Prayer is usually said Monday to Saturdays at 8:30am, with the exception of Bank
Holidays. On Feast Days Morning Prayer is replaced by a said
Eucharist.
Evening Prayer is usually said Mondays, Wednesdays and
Thursdays at 5.30pm.
Mid-week Eucharist: there is a said mid-week Eucharist
on Wednesday evenings at 7pm. On the first Wedneday of the month there are
prayers for healing.
The Taizé Service is on the first Thursday of the month
at 7.30pm.
On the second Thursday of each month we have a Eucharist
at 11:45am, to preceed the Thursday Lunch Club."