Bow Church
Encyclopedia
Bow Church is the parish church of St Mary and Holy Trinity, Stratford, Bow. It is located on an island site in Bow Road
(part of the A11), in Bow
, London Borough of Tower Hamlets
. There has been a church on the same site for approximately 700 years. The church was bombed in the Second World War, and the bell tower was reconstructed just after the war.
) was licensed by Bishop Ralph Baldock
of London on 17 November 1311 for the people of Bow
and Old Ford within the parish of Stepney. Before this, local people were obliged to travel to St Dunstan's, Stepney
to attend church. This was a difficult journey - especially in winter - when the road was cut off by flooding. In the 13th century, they felt confident and wealthy enough to petition for their own place of worship. The chapel of ease allowed them to pursue their religion locally, but they were still obliged to attend St Dunstan's at Stepney on religious holidays - and to pay for its upkeep.
In 1556 at Bow, during the reign of Mary I of England
, and under the authority of Edmund Bonner
, Bishop of London, many people were brought by cart from Newgate
and burned at the stake in front of Bow Church in one of the many swings of the English Reformation
.
In 1719, the parish became independent and St Mary, Stratford, Bow was consecrated. The parish also included the Old Ford area which has also been known as North Bow.
The church was given Grade B listed building designation on 19 July 1950.
It gives its name to the nearby Bow Church DLR station
.
During 2011, the church is celebrating 700 years of Christian life on the site.
Bow Road
Bow Road is a thoroughfare in Bow, Tower Hamlets, London, England. The road forms part of the A11, running from Aldgate to Norwich in Norfolk. To the west the road becomes Mile End Road, and to the east at the Bow Interchange roundabout, there is a junction with the A12.The College of Technology...
(part of the A11), in Bow
Bow, London
Bow is an area of London, England, United Kingdom in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is a built-up, mostly residential district located east of Charing Cross, and is a part of the East End.-Bridges at Bowe:...
, London Borough of Tower Hamlets
London Borough of Tower Hamlets
The London Borough of Tower Hamlets is a London borough to the east of the City of London and north of the River Thames. It is in the eastern part of London and covers much of the traditional East End. It also includes much of the redeveloped Docklands region of London, including West India Docks...
. There has been a church on the same site for approximately 700 years. The church was bombed in the Second World War, and the bell tower was reconstructed just after the war.
Early history
The church (as a chapel of easeChapel of ease
A chapel of ease is a church building other than the parish church, built within the bounds of a parish for the attendance of those who cannot reach the parish church conveniently....
) was licensed by Bishop Ralph Baldock
Ralph Baldock
Ralph Baldock was a medieval Bishop of London.Baldock was elected on 24 February 1304 and consecrated on 30 January 1306....
of London on 17 November 1311 for the people of Bow
Bow, London
Bow is an area of London, England, United Kingdom in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is a built-up, mostly residential district located east of Charing Cross, and is a part of the East End.-Bridges at Bowe:...
and Old Ford within the parish of Stepney. Before this, local people were obliged to travel to St Dunstan's, Stepney
St Dunstan's, Stepney
St Dunstan's, Stepney is an Anglican Church which stands on a site which has been used for Christian worship for over a thousand years. It is located in Stepney High Street, in Stepney, London Borough of Tower Hamlets.-History:...
to attend church. This was a difficult journey - especially in winter - when the road was cut off by flooding. In the 13th century, they felt confident and wealthy enough to petition for their own place of worship. The chapel of ease allowed them to pursue their religion locally, but they were still obliged to attend St Dunstan's at Stepney on religious holidays - and to pay for its upkeep.
In 1556 at Bow, during the reign of Mary I of England
Mary I of England
Mary I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from July 1553 until her death.She was the only surviving child born of the ill-fated marriage of Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon. Her younger half-brother, Edward VI, succeeded Henry in 1547...
, and under the authority of Edmund Bonner
Edmund Bonner
Edmund Bonner , Bishop of London, was an English bishop. Initially an instrumental figure in the schism of Henry VIII from Rome, he was antagonized by the Protestant reforms introduced by Somerset and reconciled himself to Roman Catholicism...
, Bishop of London, many people were brought by cart from Newgate
Newgate
Newgate at the west end of Newgate Street was one of the historic seven gates of London Wall round the City of London and one of the six which date back to Roman times. From it a Roman road led west to Silchester...
and burned at the stake in front of Bow Church in one of the many swings of the English Reformation
English Reformation
The English Reformation was the series of events in 16th-century England by which the Church of England broke away from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church....
.
In 1719, the parish became independent and St Mary, Stratford, Bow was consecrated. The parish also included the Old Ford area which has also been known as North Bow.
The church was given Grade B listed building designation on 19 July 1950.
It gives its name to the nearby Bow Church DLR station
Bow Church DLR station
Bow Church station is a station on the Docklands Light Railway on Bow Road, in the Bow neighbourhood of east London. The station is located on the DLR's Stratford branch, between Devons Road and Pudding Mill Lane stations and is in Travelcard Zone 2. It is within 300 m walking distance of Bow...
.
The church today
The church is active today.During 2011, the church is celebrating 700 years of Christian life on the site.