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Clapham
St Mary

Built: 12th century +
Architect: 
Diocesan Record Office: London Metropolitan Archives

The church was replaced as the parish church of Clapham by the church of Clapham, Holy Trinity in 1776.

The church of Clapham, St Paul was built in 1815 in the churchyard of the old St Mary's church, the remains of which were removed.

Description

"The old church of Clapham, dedicated to St Mary, was enlarged several times in the second half of the seventeenth century, and in the eighteenth. In 1753 the vestry decided not to repair it any more, but to build an entirely new church. Nothing came of this for the time being, and it was not until 1768 that it was decided to apply to the patroness and the rector to obtain their consent to pulling down the old building; to prepare a petition to Parliament, and to get plans and estimate.

In 1773 it was agreed that the north aisle should be kept. Mr Couse the surveyor was to make plans and estimates for 'a strong neat Church large enough to contain 800 Persons'.

On 26 January 1774 Kenton Couse gave evidence before the Commons, and a Bill was brought in for vesting a piece of waste ground in trustees, enabling them to build a new church on it."

(from 'Parish Churches of London', Basil F L Clarke, Batsford, 1966)

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