St Mary Magdalene Church, Holloway Road
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St Mary Magdalene Church on Holloway Road is an Evangelical Anglican church in Islington, London. It is loacated in St Mary Magdalene Gardens opposite Islington Central Library and is part of the Parish of St Mary Magdalene and St David's Churches. The early 19th century building accommodates the activities of the church congregation, the churches Refugee Centre, and rents out spaces to several other users. Marriages and funerals are regularly held here.
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[edit] History
The church was built in 1814 to a design by William Wickings as a chapel of ease to the parish church of St. Mary's down Upper Street. It became a parish church in its own right in 1894. A typical Georgian six-bay brick box with three tiers of small windows, the lowest to the crypt. The bell tower at the south of the building is square and houses eight bells, cast by John Warner and Son at their Spitalfields foundry in 1875. The bells are a “maiden” ring (they have never been re-tuned or altered in any way). Inside, the interior retains its galleries on three sides supported by Tuscan columns. Originally horse shoe-shaped these were converted to a rectangular plan when the furnishings were altered in 1894-5. Most of this work was undone in 1983, when the choir stalls and pews were removed and meeting rooms were built under the galleries. The church gardens are the churches old burial ground, which was transformed into a public space at the end of the 19th century, which now is a space appreciated by many for recreation activities.
[edit] Services
St Mary Magdalene Church conducts three church services on Sundays, at least one of which is a service of Holy Communion, and a midweek afternoon service. In addition, the church runs regular prayer meetings, bible study and discussion groups, and courses such as Alpha.
[edit] Other activities
The church is home to different groups and associated activities, for example:
- St Mary Magdalene Centre for Asylum Seekers (Refugee Centre) -- provides support for refugees, including English language and computer classes
- Bellringers -- regularly ring the church bells
- Square of Grace -- open door work
In addition, St Mary Magdalene Church is closely associated with St Mary Magdalene Primary School and the future St Mary Magdalene Academy on Liverpool Road, as well as the work that is based at its nearby sister church St David.
