What happened to the first two churches on this very spot? Welcome to St. Mary the Virgin, Theydon Bois. It’s a charming church. It boasts a rich history spanning centuries. Yet, its story is one of resilience, marked by the need for not one, but two reconstructions. The first St. Mary’s church stood further north near Theydon Hall. Records suggest it might have been dedicated to St. Botolph. This structure, potentially dating back to the 12th century, appears in an 1814 engraving. Sadly, by the 1840s, this church was deemed unfit for purpose. The parishioners decided to build a new one in a more central location, right here at Theydon Green. Queen Adelaide herself contributed to the construction fund. The new St. Mary’s church, designed by Abbott and Habersham, was consecrated in 1844. However, disaster struck! Faulty construction led to its swift demise just six years later. Undeterred, the parishioners commissioned a third church, the St. Mary the Virgin we see today. Designed by the renowned architect Sydney Smirke, it rose from the ashes of its predecessor in 1851. As you explore St. Mary the Virgin, take a moment to appreciate the resilience embodied in its very stones. It stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of faith and community.
Southfields Methodist Church
Curiosity stirred within the heart of Southfields as a new chapter began. Southfields Methodist Church held its first public service