Description

ISLINGTON

TQ3183NE UPPER STREET
635-1/59/882 (East side)
20/09/54 Church of St Mary
(Formerly Listed as:
UPPER STREET
Tower of St Mary's Church)

II

Anglican church. The original church of 1751-54 by Launcelot
Dowbiggin; portico added 1903; all but the tower and portico
rebuilt after bomb damage, 1955-6, to the designs of Seely and
Paget. Brick set in Flemish bond, and stone; roof obscured by
parapet. West front and east end of three bays, sides of eight
bays, the easternmost projecting. Portico to all three western
bays with coupled Ionic columns and engaged Ionic antae;
modillion cornice; central segmental pediment with low-relief
Nativity scene; outer bays with parapet and balustrade.
Central flat-arched entrance to the church with stone
bolection-moulded architrave and panelled doors; blank windows
with similar architraves to either side. At gallery level,
round-arched windows with stone architraves and keystones, the
middle bay projecting with pediment; chamfered quoins and
modillion cornice; brick parapet to side bays with stone
coping. The tower of two stages with chamfered quoins and
stone band between stages; the first stage has a clock under a
segmental pediment on all but the east side; the belfry has
louvred windows with eared architraves and keystones;
modillion cornice. Four stone urns rest on the four corners of
the tower and an octagonal balustrade surrounding the spire
which rises through octagonal and circular-arcaded stages to a
tapering octagon. On the side elevations, all architraves of
stone; two windows to the westernmost bay; then full-height
flat-arched windows to the next six; then a full-height
tripartite window to the last, projecting, bay. The east end
has windows in the outer bays and a cruciform design in stone
in the middle bay; cornice and parapet continue from west
front.
INTERIOR: : there is virtually a single space for worship with
small 'transepts' either side of the chancel; dado panelling
throughout, the walls above lined with cork; coffered ceiling.
The chancel and transepts are defined by fluted columns of
grey marble with gilded palm leaf capitals; reredos in the
form of a plain gilded cross surrounded by painted panels on
the theme of 'The Eight Attributes of Christ' by Brian Thomas,
with a border of gilded paterae; altar table, communion rails
and pulpits in an C18 manner with carved and gilded scrolling
foliage. Organ gallery at west end carried on wooden Tuscan
columns which carried the galleries in the former church, with
central painted panel of 'Christ the Judge' by Brian Thomas.
(Tom Hornsby: Of people buildings and a faith [church guide to
St Mary's]: Gloucester).

Listing NGR: TQ3174483875

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• St Mary's Church at Wikipedia
• St Mary's Church official website
• Wikidata Q7594355

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Staffordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Drawing up a Local Listed Building Consent Order: Historic England Advice Note 6
• 
  England's Post-War Listed Buildings
• 
  Specifications for Building Conservation: Volume 1: External Structure: Practical Examples v. 2
• 
  Old House Eco Handbook: A Practical Guide to Retrofitting for Energy-Efficiency & Sustainability
• 
  London 6: Westminster (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England): Westminster v. 6