Church Of St Mary Magdalene

The Church of St Mary Magdalene is a church largely dating to 1675-9, with a 15th-century tower incorporated into its structure. It was remodelled in the 19th century. The church was designed by Charles Stanton. The lower stages of the west tower are from the 15th century, now largely obscured, with the upper part rebuilt and the front remodelled in 1830 by George Porter. The chancel was lengthened in 1883. It is constructed of stucco with a slate roof.

The church’s plan includes a nave with aisles of differing widths (with a semicircular gable extension to the south aisle), a tower over the western entrance, a chancel extending from the nave, and a vestry extending from the north aisle. The west front was remodelled in a playful Gothic style, featuring crenellated parapets to the first stage of the tower and lean-to roofs to the side aisles. The tower features pinnacles and an upper stage with a tiny lantern surmounting four gables. The front contains Tudor arches to the doors of the nave and aisles, and pointed arches to the traceried windows above, all with hood moulds.

Inside, the church retains its late-17th-century character. A closed narthex is located at the west end, leading to stairs for galleries. The interior has a four-bay, groin-vaulted nave with a crossing in the second bay from the west. Shallow vaults north and south of the crossing suggest transepts; the southern one extends south of the south aisle wall. The aisles have flat ceilings. The chancel, of two bays, has a coffered barrel vault. An arcade of giant Tuscan columns supports a decorative entablature. A gallery runs around three sides, supported by slender wooden composite columns, with panelled sections and a carved cornice featuring angel heads above the columns. A gallery, added in 1794, is set further back within the aisle, and the area below has been screened off to create a separate room. Round-arched windows with leaded lights are present; a particularly large window with Gothic tracery is located in the south transept.

Significant fittings include an organ in the west gallery, housed in a case from 1750, and a reassembled carved reredos with angel heads and garlands. Two brass candelabra, dated 1699 and 1703, are located in the nave. A large window in the east wall of the chancel contains stained glass from 1883. The church also contains a large monument dated 1681, to William Casteil, featuring black and white marble, scrolled brackets, columns, a broken pediment, and cresting. Another large monument from 1758 is dedicated to the Browning family. This medieval parish church of Bermondsey forms a group with the adjacent building at number 191.