THE FRIENDS OF ST MARY'S CHURCH
We are a group of people united in our ambition to celebrate St Mary's Church and safeguard it for future generations. The Friends is a charity (Charity No.1211058) whose objects are 'to aid in the restoration, preservation, repair, maintenance, improvement and beautification, for the benefit of the public, of St Mary's Church, Somers Town, and of the fixtures, fittings, stained glass, furniture, ornaments and chattels therein'. Having regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit, the charity has undertaken to:
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raise funds to help maintain the fabric of the church
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finance special projects to restore the church
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promote public awareness of the church and its place in the history of Somers Town.
ABOUT THE CHURCH
St Mary's (1824–7) is a Commissioners' Church, built as a place of worship for a rapidly-expanding population in Somers Town. It was designed by W and HW Inwood, the same architects responsible for St Pancras Church on Euston Road. The interior was remodelled in the late 19th century by Ewan Christian.
A HISTORY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE
For over 150 years, St Mary's has been a remarkable site of social justice. Most famously, in the 1920s and 30s with the work of Fr Basil Jellicoe and the Magdalen Mission. Visionary men and women spearheaded a movement to level the slums in Somers Town and build decent homes for everyone.
GOVERNANCE
The Friends of St Mary's Church Somers Town is a registered charity under the Charities Act constituted pursuant to a Constitution adopted on 21 November 2024. It is managed by four Trustees composed of a Chair and three others (who are all elected at the charity's annual general meeting).
Behind The Graffiti
