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St Mary Matfelon, Whitechapel |
| The Whitechapel Church, the second oldest church in Stepney, was opened
and re-consecrated, for this was the third church built on the site, by the Bishop of
London on the 2nd February 1877. Just three years later on 26th
August 1880 the Church was destroyed by fire: only the tower, vestry and church rooms
survived. The Whitechapel Church was rebuilt and opened again on 1st December
1882. It could seat 1600. During the summer months, there was an outside pulpit for
sermons. The earliest known record of the Church dates back to 1329. Originally built as a chapel-of-ease and named St Mary Matfelon, the origin of the name is lost in time. In the Middle ages whitewash was commonly used by builders and it seems logic that the Church was given a coat of whitewash from time to time giving the Church a clean and attractive appearance, hence its name. Whitechapel Church became a landmark on the main road. In 1338 it became the parish church for the western part of Stepney Recorded in the parish register in 1649: "Buriall, June 21, Rich. Brandon, a man out of Rosemary Lane", now Royal Mint Street, and in the margin was added, "this R Brandon is supposed to have cut off the Head of Charles I". On the night of 29th December 1940, the Whitechapel Church was destroyed, when it was gutted by fire during an enemy incendiary raid. In 1952 the Church was demolished. In 1966 the site of the church and the churchyard was cleared and made into a public garden. |
