Saint Mary-at-Lambeth
Right : Engraving by W.H. Miller, 1836
The first mention of Lambeth was the death of King Harthacanute, the last Viking king of England, at a wedding feast on the site in 1042 AD. The church was built later by Countess Goda, sister of Edward the Confessor, in 1062. It was then an important Minster. The oldest surviving part of the church is the Tower of 1374-7 and four mediaeval corbels. The body of the church was demolished and rebuilt by Philip Charles Hardwick in 1851-52. The church and the graveyard contain many interesting monuments and memorials.
Dates in the History of St Mary-at-Lambeth
- 1062 : Original church built by Countess Goda and dedicated to Saint Mary the Virgin
- 1086 : Recorded in Domesday Book under the entry for 'Lanchei' (Lambeth)
- 1197 : Granted to the Archbishop of Canterbury by the See of Rochester
- 1243 : Wooden tower built
- 1374-77 : Church rebuilt in flint and stone
- 1512: Princess Anne of York, 3rd daughter of Edward IV, buried in Howard Chapel
- 1520: The Lambeth Pedlar
- 1522 : Norfolk Chapel built by Thomas, 2nd Duke of Norfolk
- 1524 : Thomas Howard buried in the Howard Chapel
- 1538 : Elizabeth Bolelyn, Countess of Wiltshire and mother of Queen Anne Boleyn buried in Howard Chapel
- 1575 : Archbishop Parker's bowels buried in the Chancel
- 1610 : Archbishop Bancroft buried in the church - the first of six Archbishops of Canterbury to be buried in St Marys.
- 1613 : The bells are rung for Charles 1 returning from Spain
- 1638 : John Tradescant the Elder buried in family tomb in churchyard
- 1643 : The rood screens removed and steeple cross sold off as old iron as Cromwell's puritism takes hold
- 1640/50s : Many burials of royalist prisoners who died during incarceration in Lambeth Palace
- 1660 : The King's Arms are ordered to be set up once again in the church
- 1662 : John Tradescant the Younger buried in family tomb in churchyard
- 1688 : Mary of Modena, wife of James II, sheltered in church while waiting to flee the country
- 1692 : Elias Ashmole buried in the church
- 1787 : William Bacon buried in the churchyard after being struck by lightning
- 1817 : Admiral Bligh of the Bounty buried in the churchyard
- 1817 : Nancy Storace, opera singer and Mozart's first 'Susanna', buried in the churchyard
- 1822 : James Sowerby, botanical artist, buried in graveyard
- 1842 : Arthur Sullivan baptised in the church
- 1851-2 : Church (except tower) demolished and rebuilt by Philip Charles Hardwick
- 1904 : Total immersion font installed
- 1904 : West window presented in memory of Archbishop Moore by the churchmen and women of America
- 1887 : Terracotta altar reredos, modelled by George Tinworth, presented by Sir George Doulton in memory of his wife
- 1941 : Windows, reredos and gargoyles damaged by World War II bombing
- 1972 : Church deconsecrated and stripped of its furnishings
- 1977 : Museum of Garden History opens
St Mary's Stained Glass Windows
Saint Mary-at-Lambeth Parish Records
If you wish to view the parish records they are held at -
London Metropolitan Archives, 40 Northampton Road, London EC1R 0HB Tel. 020 7332 3820
E-mail : ask.lma@corpoflondon.gov.uk
LOCAL HISTORY ARCHIVES are held at: Lambeth Archives, Minet Library, Knatchbull Road, London SE5 9QY
Tel : 020 7926 6076