The Church

St Mary's is one of the finest examples of a late 18th century church to be found in Greater London. It was designed by Thomas Hardwick. It is highly prized because it has hardly been altered since it was built.

It has a hipped slate roof, portico, wooden bell tower, open belfry and cupola.

Off what remains of the original carriage drive is the entrance to the crypt, built into what looks like a tomb.

The church is a rectangular building, constructed of brick and faced with Portland stone, with a projecting chancel, nave, aisles and segmented headed windows on the ground floor.

The boxed pews are a stunning feature of the the nave and Historic England described the church as “Excellent unrestored interior complete with original fittings – boxed pews, pulpit with sounding board, galleries and organ”.

The monuments and impressive columns create a sense of grandness. The gallery, reached by two sets of steps, on either side of the organ, originally provided seating for the lower classes and the servants but today provide a raised vantage point to take in the stunning interior.

The windows on the upper floor are round headed. The two round windows have original painted glass by Frances Eginton and there are a number of other notable stained glass windows.

In the chancel there is a large funerary monument to Josiah Child. It is dated 1699 and is attributed to John Nost. The monument is of interest to visiting artists and those researching the East India Company. It was originally sited in the former church (as were the family remains), which stood approximately 50 yards to the south of the present church (and the floor of which can still be seen in the grounds).

Behind the altar (which is reported to be a table from the former Wanstead House) there is a restored painting from the 17th century studio of Guercino.

The Vestry contains images of Wanstead House (demolished in 1825, just 30 years after the church was built) which was sited at the south-eastern corner of the current graveyard, as well as a copy of the J M W Turner painting of the former church (built c.1520) and his sketch of the "new" church (he was apprenticed to the architect Thomas Hardwick).

The Crypt

The crypt, accessed from the churchyard, bears inscriptions to those buried there, including Lord Mayors of London, and the Child family. Josiah Child, Governor of the East India Company is buried there, along with the preserved heart of his grandson Sir John Tylney. Sir John died in Italy in 1784, the story goes that the heart arrived after the tomb had been sealed for the last time, so the heart stands in a cut-crystal "jar", resting on the original font outside the Family Vault, with a plaque listing all the relatives therein.

The Churchyard

The three acre churchyard contains graves of interest including that of Thomas Turpin, believed to be the uncle of Dick Turpin. 50 tombstones date from the 18th century or earlier, the oldest being that of James Waly who died in 1685.

Historic England mention the churchyard in their church listing. The railings and gates to the north boundary of the church incorporate a "kissing-gate", and are Grade II Listed (Listed in 1979).

Around 1803, the stone sentry box (Grade II Listed in 1979), was installed as a memorial to John Wilton, founding member of the Royal Academy of Art, and his family; it provided shelter for the armed guard appointed to deal with body snatchers in the churchyard.
The tomb of Vice-Admiral Robert Plampin (d.1834) is Grade II listed (Listing in 2004)

There are Commonwealth War Graves from the 1st and 2nd World Wars, and memorials to some 70 victims of war even pre-dating WWI.

Historic England designated this fine building as a Grade I listed building (in 1954), and it is the only Grade I in the London Borough of Redbridge.