St. Mary's Church, Rotherhithe
Names
- St. Mary's Church, Rotherhithe
- Redriff Church
- St. Mary at Rederiff
- St. Mary at Rotherith
Street/Area/District
- Rotherhithe Street
Maps & Views
- 1710 Prospect of the City of London, Westminster and St. James' Park (Kip): Redriff Church
- 1720 London (Strype): Redriff Church
- 1736 London (Moll & Bowles): Redriff Church
Descriptions
from A New View of London, by Edward Hatton (1708)
St. Mary Retherhith Church,
Is situate in the Place we more vulgarly call Rederiffe, near the Thames side, being on the Sly side thereof in the County of Surry, near that of Kent, and in the Diocess of Winchester, being distant cross the said River from Execution dock S. 350 Yards.
II. It is so called, as being dedicated on its first Erection to the Holy Virgin, as is shew'd under the Church, called Abchurch; and Rotherhith, or Red rose haven, probably from such a sign there, as Rother lane (which we now call Pudding lane) had that name from the Sign of a Red rose there.
III. Of the Foundation of this Church, I find nothing in History, or elsewhere. The Church had a general Repair, and was new pewed at the charge of the Parishioners, Anno Dom. 1687, which cost 1200 l. and the present Structure appears to have been built at least 150 years. …
IX. The Living is a Rectory; the Presentation is in Mr. Edw. Stokes. The present Rector is Mr. William Baldwin; Value (as I was told) is near 400 l. per An. and in the Queen's Books 'tis Rated 18 l. Lecturer, Mr. Longbottome. Hours of Prayer, are Wednesdays, Fridays, and Holy-days about 11. No Organ.
X. The Vestry is General, and the Parish &c. Officers are,
2 Church-Wardens. 2 Sidesmen. 4 Overseers and Collectors for the Poor. 1 Constable. 5 Headboroughs. 2 Scavengers. 2 Surveyors of the High ways.
XI. The Parish extends Ed to Snelgrove's Dock; Wd to W. lane, including the E. side thereof; Sd to Gallywall Nd along the Thames. The whole Parish containing, as I had it from the Queen's Tax-book 1145 Dwelling-houses.
See Charity-School, &c. Sect. the 6th.
from London and Its Environs Described, by Robert and James Dodsley (1761)
St. Mary, Rotherhith, is situated near the bank of the Thames, and is distinguished from other churches dedicated to the Virgin Mary, by the name of the place in which it was situated. The old church had stood above 200 years, when in 1736, it was in so ruinous a condition, that the inhabitants applied to Parliament for leave to pull it down, which being granted, the present structure was finished in 1739. …
This church is a rectory in the gift of a lay patron. The profits arising to the Incumbent are said to amount to above 150. per annum.
from Lockie's Topography of London, by John Lockie (1810)
St. Mary's Church, Rotherhithe,—about 1½ mile below London-bridge by the line of the river, and nearly opposite Wapping-dock-stairs.
from A Topographical Dictionary of London and Its Environs, by James Elmes (1831)
St. Mary, Rotherhithe, the church of, is situated in Rotherhithe-street, near the Thames. The old church had stood above four hundred years, when in 1736 it was in so ruinous a condition, that the parishioners applied to parliament for powers to pull it down and rebuild it, and the present church was finished in 1739. It is a substantial church of brick and stone, well lighted by a double range of windows.
The church is a rectory, the advowson of which was anciently in the abbey of Bermondsey; but since the suppression of that monastery, it has passed through various hands, and now belongs to Clare Hall, Cambridge. It is in the diocese of Winchester, and in the county and arch-deaconry of Surrey. The present rector is the Rev. J. Short Hewitt, D.D., Rector of Ewhurst, who was instituted in 1817.