Have you ever wanted to step back in time? St Margaret, Barking is an ancient church, steeped in history. It stands on a site dating back to the 13th century. The church is Grade I listed. This means it is one of the most important historic buildings in England. Its foundations are within the grounds of Barking Abbey. Barking Abbey was a royal monastery established in the 7th century. Sadly, the abbey was dissolved during the Reformation, but St Margaret survived. The oldest part of the church is the chancel, built in the 13th century during the reign of King John. The church also contains a number of memorials, including one to the 17th-century politician, Charles Montagu. Another to the explorer, Captain James Cook, who married Elizabeth Batts in St Margaret in 1762. His wife’s father owned the Bell Inn in Wapping. This was one of Cook’s early haunts. He would often go there for a drink after a hard day at sea. But St Margaret was more than just a church. In 2007, two small stones from the medieval London Bridge were joined in a sculpture in front of the church. This sculpture forms part of a series of artworks in Barking Town Centre. St Margaret keeps its history alive, ensuring that even in the 21st century, we remember the stories of this historic place.
Southfields Methodist Church
Curiosity stirred within the heart of Southfields as a new chapter began. Southfields Methodist Church held its first public service