Open House Festival

Croydon Minster

religious, concert/performance space, civic

Mediaeval/Sir George Gilbert Scott, 1870

Church Street, Croydon, CR0 1RN

Medieval style church rebuilt by Sir George Gilbert Scott after 1867 fire. Tower & south porch are 15C. Large nave with open timber-work roof leads to chancel dominated by superb stained glass window & rich alabaster reredos.

Getting there

Train

East Croydon, West Croydon

Bus

157, 264, 468, 75

Additional travel info

Church St Tram Stop (travelling west) and Reeves Corner (travelling east) are just 5 minutes' walk away.

Access

Facilities

Accessibility notes

Bell tower tours and some parts of the church have limited access (steps and uneven floors)

What you can expect

We welcome all visitors and ask that they respect our sacred space - and enjoy its peace and beauty! Lots of pews to sit in!

Create a free visitor account to book festival tickets

Drop in activities

Fri 20 Sep

13:10–13:50

Drop in: Lunchtime Recital

40 minutes of music presented by emerging professional musicians from one of London's world class conservatoires.

14:00–14:45

Drop in: Talk - from Saxons to Victorians

An entertaining general history of the Minster building, given by our Education Officer, David Morgan.

Sun 22 Sep

12:30–13:00

Drop in: Talk - Minster History and Architecture

Education Office David Morgan gives an outline of the Minster's history and features of the building. Q&A and opportunity to look around.

13:00–13:30

Drop in: Guided tour - Stained Glass Windows

Education Office David Morgan gives a guided tour of the the Minster's beautiful stained glass windows. Q&A and opportunity to look around.

17:30–18:15

Drop in: Choral Evensong

Traditional Choral Evensong sung by our Choir - 45 minutes of glorious music to round off the weekend. All welcome.

Activities

Sat 21 Sep

Guided tour

11:00–11:30

Tours of the Bell Tower

Tour of the Bell Tower - visitors can climb the bell tower and have a go at ringing the bells!

How to book

Please create a free visitor account to book your festival tickets.

Guided tour

12:00–12:30

Tours of the Bell Tower

Tour of the Bell Tower - visitors can climb the bell tower and have a go at ringing the bells!

How to book

Please create a free visitor account to book your festival tickets.

Guided tour

14:00–14:30

Tours of the Bell Tower

Tour of the Bell Tower - visitors can climb the bell tower and have a go at ringing the bells!

How to book

Please create a free visitor account to book your festival tickets.

About

History

There has been a church on this site since Saxon times, positioned on the banks of the River Wandle. Now the river flows underground and comes to the surface in nearby Wandle Park.

In its medieval form, the church was mainly a Perpendicular structure, and because it was sited next to the Archbishop of Canterbury's Palace, the building was made impressive through the money and influence of Archbishops Chichele and Courtney.

The church was severely damaged by fire in 1867, following which only the tower, south porch and outer walls remained. It was rebuilt, incorporating the existing remains and essentially to the same design as the old church, under the direction of Sir George Gilbert Scott, and was re-consecrated in 1870. There is a brass plaque just inside the entrance which lists the vicars through the years, the earliest being Elfsie in 960 AD.

Tombs and Memorials

Six Archbishops of Canterbury are buried here; Grindal, Whitgift, Sheldon, Wake, Herring and Potter. Whitgift's and Sheldon's tombs have been reconstructed to their original appearance. Both are magnificent in their design. Jasper Latham, the sculptor who worked with Christopher Wren on rebuilding St Paul's cathedral designed and created the Sheldon tomb.

Two memorials reveal Croydon's link with the American War of Independence. In the Lady Chapel there is a brass to Thomas Hutchinson, the last Colonial Governor of Massachusetts. John Singleton Copley, one of America's greatest portrait painters is also buried here and has a stone memorial on the North Wall.

There are several military memorials from the Boer War and the Two World Wars. On entering the Minster you pass through the Queen's Shrine which is a memorial to the local 2nd/4th Battalion The Queen's Regiment from WWI. Two carved soldiers stand on eternal duty on either side: one a private, the other an officer. Above them, on the top of the wooden screen stand the four patron saints for each country in the United Kingdom.

On the wall in the chancel is a brass to Gabriel Sylvester, Master of Clare College 1496.

Stained Glass

There are many outstanding examples of Victorian stained glass. The magnificent East window is a Clayton and Bell design completed in the rebuild thanks to public subscription.

The West facing windows, dedicated to the Rev Braithwaite, are made by O A Hemmings.

The Memorial window for the Royal Navy service in World War I
on the South Wall is by Margaret Chilton.

Miscellany

The brass lectern standing at the front of the church was saved from the fire. It is 15th Century Flemish in origin. The tongue in still visible in the eagle's beak. A coin placed on here would fall into the body of the bird. This money was called "Peter's pence."

The carvings on the ends of the wooden pews in the chancel are fine examples of Ruskin-like designs, incorporating flora and fauna of all kinds, real and imagined.

The octagonal font, carved from alabaster, is Victorian and contains scenes from biblical baptism stories.

Music

Croydon Minster has an active church community with a world class music programme. Our Choral Foundation provides training for local youngsters in the Anglican Musical tradition and they sing alongside adult Lay Clerks for all sung services. We also run a Friday Lunchtime Recital series which showcases emerging young performers from local schools and conservatoires. All are welcome to enjoy all of these events.

Online presence

www.croydonminster.org

twitter.com/croydonminster

www.facebook.com/croydonminster

www.instagram.com/explore/locations/944757464/croydon-minster

Nearby

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