A summary list of the Thames-side churches

St Mary Magdalene’s, Richmond: was originally established as a chapel of ease to Kingston. The tower dates to 1507, while the remainder is of the mid 18th century.
St Mary’s, Twickenham: the ragstone tower dates to the late 14th century, while the body of the church was rebuilt in 1714-15.
All Saints, Isleworth: the only medieval survival is the tower, which dates to the 15th century. The rest of the church was rebuilt in 1705-6 and was destroyed during bombing in 1943.
St Mary’s, Mortlake: first built in 1348 as a chapel of ease to Wimbledon and rebuilt in 1543. Of this, only the tower survives, there have been several subsequent phases of rebuilding culminating in the replacement of the nave and chancel in the late 19th-early 20th century.
St Nicholas’, Chiswick: the dedication to the patron saint of sailors and fishermen is a reminder that Chiswick was once a fishing village. Only the 15th century tower survives, the remainder of the church was rebuilt in 1884.
St Mary’s, Barnes: excavation of this church, believed to have been founded about the time of Richard I, was undertaken after it was gutted by fire in the 1970s. A Norman arch was revealed in the south wall and the church appears to have been extended during the 13th century. A brick tower was added at the end of the 15th century and the north aisle dates to around 1850.

All Saints Fulham

All Saints, Fulham: the manor of Fulham has belonged to the See of London since the 7th century, suggesting an ancient origin for the parish church. The church was rebuilt in 1881 but the 14th century tower survives. There are several episcopal tombs in the churchyard.

St Mary’s Putney

St Mary’s, Putney: this church was also originally a chapel of ease to Wimbledon, first mentioned in 1302. The tower dates to the 15th century and the body of the church has been rebuilt several times, most recently during the 1980s after a destructive fire.
All Saints, Wandsworth: nothing is visible of the medieval church, although ‘remnants ‘of the original tower have been noted in the basement. The tower and the body of the church have undergone several phases of restoration during the post-medieval and modern periods, most recently in 1955 after war damage.
St Mary’s, Battersea: is first mentioned in 1157, and is known to have undergone several phases of building with the 14th and 15th centuries. It was rebuilt in 1775-6 and this structure survives today.
All Saints, Chelsea: a Saxon church must have existed although no structural remains survive today. The north east chapel dates to the 14th century and the chancel to the early 16th century. A chantry chapel was added by Sir Thomas More.
St Mary’s, Lambeth: the manor of Lambeth is said to have been given by the Countess Goda, sister of Edward the Confessor to the Bishop and Convent of Rochester, however it was acquired by the Archbishopric of Canterbury in 1157. The tower dates to the late 14th century, as does the main body of the church, which was restored during the 19th century.
St Mary-le-Strand this church could be a mid Saxon foundation, given its location in the Lundenwic settlement. However all traces of this possible early church were probably destroyed when the church was levelled in 1549 to make way for the construction of Somerset House.

Anglo-Saxon arch at All Hallows Barking

City of London churches: the survival of an arch constructed of ragstone and reused Roman tiles suggests that All Hallows Barking is of Anglo-Saxon origin. It has been suggested that All Hallows Barking was a minster church, constructed to the east of the Alfredian core, on a slight rise with views over the river. Other churches associated with Lundenburh await further investigation; it has been suggested that the remains of the 10th century aisled hall found reused in a revetment at Thames Court (also known as Bull Wharf) could represent part of a timber church. The churches of All Hallows the Great and All Hallows the Less, both located to the south of Thames Street near Dowgate, are also possible early foundations.

Excavation at Thames Court
Photo by M. Cox

St Mary Magdalene’s, Bermondsey: was founded by the Cluniac monks of Bermondsey Abbey and became the parish church after the Dissolution. Very little of the medieval church survives, the majority of the visible fabric dates to 1680.
St Mary’s, Rotherhithe: the medieval church was completely rebuilt during the 18th century because of the damage caused to the building by periodic flooding due to its riverside location.
St Nicholas’ Deptford: the 14th century tower survives, however the 16th century body of the church was destroyed during World War II and restored in 1958.
St Alphege, Greenwich: St Alphege (Aelfheah), Bishop of Winchester in 984, and appointed Archbishop of Canterbury in 1005 was captured by Danish invaders in 1012, and taken as a hostage to Greenwich. The archbishop was killed by his captors when he refused to allow anyone to pay his ransom. A church was erected at Greenwich in his memory, however, nothing of the medieval building survives, as the whole structure was rebuilt in 1711-14 after the collapse of the roof.
St Mary Magdalene’s, Woolwich: a church with its origins in the 12th century was replaced in the early 18th century as it was in danger of collapsing into the Thames.