Country United Kingdom Website stmarymortlake.org.uk Years built from 1543 Designated as world heritage site 25 October 1951 | Denomination Church of England Founded 1348 Architectural style Tudor architecture | |
 | ||
Location Mortlake High Street, London SW14 8JA Address Mortlake High St, London SW14 8JA, UK Diocese Anglican Diocese of Southwark Similar Christ Church - East Sheen, All Saints Church - East Sheen, St Mary Magdalen Roman C, Our Lady Queen of Peace Ch, East Sheen Baptist Church | ||
St Mary the Virgin Mortlake is a parish church in Mortlake, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is part of the Church of England and the Anglican Communion. The rector is The Revd Canon Dr Ann Nickson.
Contents
The building, on Mortlake High Street, London SW14, dates from 1543 and is Grade II* listed.
History
The first chapel in Mortlake, founded in 1348, stood on the river side of the High Street, on a site later occupied by Mortlake Brewery. The only surviving relic is a 15th-century font presented to this church by Archbishop Bourchier (c.1404–86).
The present churchyard and church were given to the parish by King Henry VIII in 1543, an event commemorated by a stone in the west front of the tower. Its inscription "VIVAT RH8 1543" is dismissed by Cherry and Pevsner as "bogus".
The 1543 building has undergone many alterations and enlargements during its long history and, of the original Tudor church, only the tower remains. The belfry and the cupola are a distinctive feature of the tower which appears as a landmark in many historic prints and pictures of the Thames bank. The current appearance of the church is mostly the work of local architect Sir Arthur Blomfield, who built the chancel in 1885; his firm built the nave in 1905.
The vestry house dates from 1670. It was restored in 1979/80.
Internal fittings
The church's pulpit was installed in 1902 in memory of Albert Shadwell Shutt, who had been the church's vicar from 1866 to 1896.
Memorials
The earliest surviving tomb in the churchyard is that of the astrologer John Partridge, who died in 1715. Memorials to other famous people include a British Prime Minister, Henry Addington, 1st Viscount Sidmouth (1757–1844) and three Lord Mayors of London. A memorial to John Dee (1527–1609), who lived opposite the church and is buried in an unmarked spot beneath the chancel, was unveiled in June 2013.
Current use
Together with Christ Church, East Sheen and All Saints' Church, East Sheen, St Mary's forms the parish of Mortlake with East Sheen. The parish publishes a monthly magazine, Parish Link.
Services are held on Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday mornings.
Mortlake Quiet Gardens are based around the landscaped churchyard and are affiliated to The Quiet Garden Trust.