Church Of St Mary

TQ 48 NE 3/10

Grafton Road (east side) Church of St Mary

II Church. 1934-35. By Welch, Cachemaille-Day, and Lander. Concrete rendered, with brick dressings; plain tile roof.

Five-bay nave having four-bay north aisle with porch at its west end; sanctuary of 3x3 bays below tower; one and a half-storey two-bay vestry with flat above at northeast corner. Windows have steeply-pointed curved heads with intersecting tracery; doors also have curved heads, and panelled doors; buttresses; brick verges.

West end dominated by steeply-gabled nave with five-light window; gabled aisle, set back on left, has three-light window and is fronted by porch which has shallowly-pitched roof. Two-stage tower has tile offset at lower level; drum at southeast corner rising as vice with slit windows and concrete ribbed bellcote; band below the two-light windows which are set in concave panels. a single lancet to east end.

Interior: barn-like nave has pointed arched aisle arcade; corbelled upper crucks, and two tiers of through purlins. Tower: of ribbed brick, the main-ribs springing from flower-decorated brackets; pointed arched arcades and nave arch; balcony below windows; tubular metal light fittings. Altar rail has squat, spindle-type, balusters. Parquet floors. Original pulpit and lectern.

This is one of five churches which were built to serve the large London County Council Becontree Estate.

Listing NGR: TQ4846286300