religious
James Maltby Bignell, 1885
Northcote Road, Walthamstow, E17 6PQ
James Maltby Bignall (1827-1885) worked in the practice of Sir George Gilbert Scott, the architect of St Pancras Station. The style of St Michael's is late Gothic Revival, in its size and height reminiscent of Northern European churches.
Walthamstow Central
Blackhorse Road
W11, W15
Northcote Road (Corner of Palmerston Road) Walthamstow, London, E17 6PQ
Guided tours about the history of the building.
This church has an imposing interior augmented by stained glass windows by Hardman and the highest nave roof of any church in the Chelmsford Diocese. The Church Today is in use by community groups for example: https://www.petermccarthy-violone.co.uk and https://www.bachtobaby.com/walthamstow-music-concerts-for-baby-and-family, the church is very much loved and used by the local community. The church is a beautiful reminder of Walthamstow past and it is a vital and living part of the community.
From the first Richard Foster, benefactor of St Michael's, envisaged the church as a community project to benefit the rapidly expanding population of labourers and their families flooding into Walthamstow, both with religious instruction and also the education of children in reading and writing through the Sunday School. The aim of nurturing young people continues with the nursery operating in the Church Hall, and outreach to those less fortunate is achieved through hosting a Soup Kitchen.
The architect of the Church, Hall and Vicarage J Maltby Bignell worked in the practice of George Gilbert Scott, imbibing the principles of Gothic architecture thereby. He combined this with 19th century liturgical reforms which opened churches up so that the congregation could see everything that was going on during church services. Its open, uncluttered interior as handed down has been retained, in order to show Victorian neo-Gothic style at its best.
One of the main aims of the 19th Century Anglo-Catholic movement of which St Michael's was a part, was to bring beauty of liturgy, music and architecture to less privileged people who would otherwise not experience it. St Michael's continues this aim with the liturgy and music of its church services and also in encouraging and hosting music groups who use the church for rehearsals and concerts.
