St Mary'S Parish Church, Hampton

St Mary's Parish Church, Hampton, is an Anglican church in Hampton in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. LocationSt Mary's Parish Church is to be found at the junction of two major roads A308 and A311, leading to Twickenham, Kingston upon Thames and Sunbury-on-Thames. Standing tall on Bell Hill it marks the ancient heart of Hampton. During the mid 19th century houses were built to the north of the existing village; this area became known as New Hampton, and later as Hampton Hill. The Parish of St James, Hampton Hill was created in 1863. In 1929 the Hampton Parish was further divided by the creation of a separate parish of All Saints. HistoryThe site upon which this church is built is said to be that of a Romano-British chapel. Certainly a house of worship has stood here for at least 650 years, as historical records begin in 1342, when the site came into possession of the Priory of Takeley in Essex. It is described in the annals of the Priory as a Rectory of that monastery. Before that time it is possible that a simple wooden structure existed, or services may have been held under the ancient yew tree that stood in the churchyard until 1829. The old churchThe first church for which there are historical records was built of flint and stone. The interior of the building had galleries round the north, west and south sides, with a singing loft for choir and instrumental accompaniment. There was a three-decker pulpit: the first level for the clerk, the second for the reading of lessons, and the uppermost for the delivery of sermons. The royal pew was situated at the front of the north gallery. The old church also housed a school room and provided a master for Hampton School, from 1557.

St Mary's Parish Church, Hampton, is an Anglican church in Hampton in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. LocationSt Mary's Parish Church is to be found at the junction of two major roads A308 and A311, leading to Twickenham, Kingston upon Thames and Sunbury-on-Thames. Standing tall on Bell Hill it marks the ancient heart of Hampton. During the mid 19th century houses were built to the north of the existing village; this area became known as New Hampton, and later as Hampton Hill. The Parish of St James, Hampton Hill was created in 1863. In 1929 the Hampton Parish was further divided by the creation of a separate parish of All Saints. HistoryThe site upon which this church is built is said to be that of a Romano-British chapel. Certainly a house of worship has stood here for at least 650 years, as historical records begin in 1342, when the site came into possession of the Priory of Takeley in Essex. It is described in the annals of the Priory as a Rectory of that monastery. Before that time it is possible that a simple wooden structure existed, or services may have been held under the ancient yew tree that stood in the churchyard until 1829. The old churchThe first church for which there are historical records was built of flint and stone. The interior of the building had galleries round the north, west and south sides, with a singing loft for choir and instrumental accompaniment. There was a three-decker pulpit: the first level for the clerk, the second for the reading of lessons, and the uppermost for the delivery of sermons. The royal pew was situated at the front of the north gallery. The old church also housed a school room and provided a master for Hampton School, from 1557.