Borough
Architectural period
Architectural type
Facility

We will be launching the 2021 programme at 12pm on 11 August 2021

  • South Door from Churchyard
  • Solly Tomb
  • Looking south
  • Memento Mori
  • Cherubs on Rigg
  • World War I Grave

St. Mary's Church, Walthamstow Village

Unknown

place
Church End (top of Church Hill), Walthamstow, E17 9RL

Travel Information

subway
Nearest tube: Walthamstow Central
train
Nearest train: Walthamstow Central, Walthamstow Queens Road, Wood Street
directions_bus
Bus routes: 212, W12, W16
open_in_new
Churchyard of the ancient Parish Church of St Mary, Walthamstow; an area of three & one third acres containing over 1300 monuments including four Grade II listed tombs. Burial records date from 1743.

Events

Sunday 5th September
Churchyard Trails: Stories from Walthamstow's Past
schedule Time: 12pm to 12.45pm
group Capacity: 10
Weather dependent ~ may be cancelled at short notice if wet. Due to uneven terrain, we regret the event is not suitable for those with limited mobility and wheelchair users. Please wear suitable footwear. Unsuitable for those aged under 10 years of age.
Churchyard Trails: Stories from Walthamstow's Past
schedule Time: 1pm to 1.45pm
group Capacity: 10
Weather dependent ~ may be cancelled at short notice if wet. Due to uneven terrain, we regret the event is not suitable for those with limited mobility and wheelchair users. Please wear suitable footwear. Unsuitable for those aged under 10 years of age.
Churchyard Trails: Stories from Walthamstow's Past
schedule Time: 2pm to 2.45pm
group Capacity: 10
Weather dependent ~ may be cancelled at short notice if wet. Due to uneven terrain, we regret the event is not suitable for those with limited mobility and wheelchair users. Please wear suitable footwear. Unsuitable for those aged under 10 years of age.
Churchyard Trails: Stories from Walthamstow's Past
schedule Time: 3pm to 3.45pm
group Capacity: 10
Weather dependent ~ may be cancelled at short notice if wet. Due to uneven terrain, we regret the event is not suitable for those with limited mobility and wheelchair users. Please wear suitable footwear. Unsuitable for those aged under 10 years of age.
Churchyard Trails: Stories from Walthamstow's Past
schedule Time: 4pm to 4.45pm
group Capacity: 10
Weather dependent ~ may be cancelled at short notice if wet. Due to uneven terrain, we regret the event is not suitable for those with limited mobility and wheelchair users. Please wear suitable footwear. Unsuitable for those aged under 10 years of age.
Saturday 11th September
Churchyard Trails: Stories from Walthamstow's Past
schedule Time: 12pm to 12.45pm
group Capacity: 12
Weather dependent ~ may be cancelled at short notice if wet. Due to uneven terrain, we regret the event is not suitable for those with limited mobility and wheelchair users. Please wear suitable footwear. Unsuitable for those aged under 10 years of age.
Churchyard Trails: Stories from Walthamstow's Past
schedule Time: 1pm to 1.45pm
group Capacity: 12
Weather dependent ~ may be cancelled at short notice if wet. Due to uneven terrain, we regret the event is not suitable for those with limited mobility and wheelchair users. Please wear suitable footwear. Unsuitable for those aged under 10 years of age.
Churchyard Trails: Stories from Walthamstow's Past
schedule Time: 2pm to 2.45pm
group Capacity: 12
Weather dependent ~ may be cancelled at short notice if wet. Due to uneven terrain, we regret the event is not suitable for those with limited mobility and wheelchair users. Please wear suitable footwear. Unsuitable for those aged under 10 years of age.
Churchyard Trails: Stories from Walthamstow's Past
schedule Time: 3pm to 3.45pm
group Capacity: 12
Weather dependent ~ may be cancelled at short notice if wet. Due to uneven terrain, we regret the event is not suitable for those with limited mobility and wheelchair users. Please wear suitable footwear. Unsuitable for those aged under 10 years of age.
Churchyard Trails: Stories from Walthamstow's Past
schedule Time: 4pm to 4.45pm
group Capacity: 12
Weather dependent ~ may be cancelled at short notice if wet. Due to uneven terrain, we regret the event is not suitable for those with limited mobility and wheelchair users. Please wear suitable footwear. Unsuitable for those aged under 10 years of age.

Design

Original design
Unknown, 1743
Type
Cemetery, Religious, Walk/tour
Period
Georgian, Victorian

  • History

    St Mary’s Church started as a 12th C Norman building, built around 1108 as a manorial church by Ralph de Toni, son of the standard bearer of William the Conqueror. It is the oldest building in Walthamstow and stands at the heart of the first conservation area in the London Borough of Waltham Forest, Walthamstow Village. For over 900 years, the church has been at the centre of faith and community in Walthamstow.

    The Churchyard which surrounds the building encloses three and one-third acres; of the approximately 26,000 burials 16,000 since, the mid 18th C, are recorded in the registers. There are over 1300 monuments, including four Grade II listed tombs, with the oldest legible monument dated 1710.

  • Notable Monuments and Memorials

    The four Grade II listed tombs are: Wise (1710), Rigg (1754), Solly (1776) and Morley Wilson (1847). There are several Commonwealth War Grave Commission graves across the site. Many other fine monuments are to be found, some of which will be included in the Churchyard Trails.

  • Cultural

    The stories of people buried here across several centuries reflect the changing nature of society in Walthamstow; from rural Essex village to a place where City merchants and wealthy businessmen had their country residences.

    Samuel Pepys is known to have attended services at St Mary's on two occasions and to have drunk ale with Sir Wm Penn and Sir Wm Batten at the church stile in the churchyard.

    Rev William Wilson, vicar 1822-1848, a pioneer of infant education, erected the first purpose built C of E Infants' School in the country on glebe land opposite the church in 1828.

  • Other Information

    The churchyard is the second largest enclosed green space in the local area; many people have used it as a place of refuge and peace during the recent Covid pandemic. The churchyard is being managed to be a haven for wildlife and biodiversity and in 2020 was awarded a Silver-Gilt in the Churchyard category of London In Bloom.

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