St Mary with St Alban

The Little Ships setting out for Dunkirk in May 1940, from Tough's boat yard on the River Thames. Many returned here for repair after the expedition.

There has been a church on this site for over a thousand years. Once a small fishing community, the building stood on lands belonging to the Benedictine Abbey of Westminster. Gradually, over the centuries, the church grew, and in the 16th century the construction of the South Aisle took place. Today, this is the oldest part of the building and the Tudor brickwork can be seen on the outside wall. Following the dissolution of the monasteries in the reign of Henry VIII, the manor and church were leased to the King’s friends. Later the manor was leased to ‘one George Gates’ and in 1603 to the Hill family who held it until the 18th century.

Famous people associated with the church include Sir Orlando Bridgeman, Thomas Traherne and Stephen Hales. Stephen Hales was the ‘perpetual curate’ for 51 years from 1710 to 1761. He was also a scientist, a Fellow of the Royal Society, who brought clean water to the townspeople, and was the first to study blood pressure. He built the Nave and North Aisle of the church. Further information on all of these can be found in The Parish Church of Teddington published by and available from the church.

Teddington changed completely after the arrival of the railway in 1863. New housing to accommodate the growing population was built on land on the other side of the railway bridge, and a new church, SS Peter & Paul was built in 1865 to serve the population. St Mary’s was becoming too small and it was decided that a new, large church should be built nearby. The new church, dedicated to St Alban, was consecrated in 1888. St Mary’s was closed in 1889 and allowed to fall into disrepair. Fortunately, an appeal to restore it was successful and it was rededicated in 1938 and used on occasions. In turn, St Alban’s itself gradually declined and was closed for public worship, St Mary’s once more becoming the parish church with the addition of St Alban in its dedication – ‘St Mary with St Alban’.

Today the church is thriving with a fine parish hall and continuing to reach out and serve the people of Teddington.