Bow church celebrates 700th anniversary

St Mary & Holy Trinity Church, known as ‘Bow Church’, reached a historic milestone this week with its 700th anniversary.

The Bishop of London, Dr Richard Chartres, joined the congregation and members of the local community for a special service.

He later dedicated a memorial tile in the chancel of the church paying tribute to 700 years of Christian worship on the site in central London.

Thursday marked 700 years to the day that the then Bishop of London, Bishop Ralph Baldock, signed a licence establishing a church on the site in 1311.

The historic anniversary has been marked in other ways this year, including a pageant based on the history of the church and the first major refurbishment of the building for more than 60 years.

The present church building dates back in parts to 1490 and, in 1899, was the first restoration project of C R Ashbee and the Society for the Preservation of Ancient Buildings, an organisation founded by members of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood to further the sensitive renovation of ancient buildings.

Dr Amanda Claremont, Churchwarden at St Mary & Holy Trinity, Bow, said: “Our 700th anniversary has been a wonderful celebration of Christian faith and service in the East End of London.

"Bow Church is quite literally in the middle of the road: a road that was once in a rural hamlet and is now a major arterial for London’s dynamic and diverse East End.

"Through these huge changes, Bow Church and its congregations have faithfully served the surrounding community and borne witness to the love of God. We look forward to continuing this service in our next 700 years.”

The occasion comes not long after the passing of the Church’s former Rector, Michael Peet, who served the local community for 22 years and authored a book of local history centred on the church.

The service was joined by the priests of local Roman Catholic and Methodist parishes, with musical contributions from the local choir, Bow Singers, and orchestra, Docklands Sinfonia.