Description
The building of a new parish church at Ilford was under discussion in 1823 although the division of the parish of Barking was first proposed in 1650. Due to strong opposition it did not get built until 1830 when the new ecclesiastical parish of Great Ilford was created by Order in Council. The parish churchyard of St Mary the Virgin Great Ilford is now closed to new burials, but has a moderate collection of early C19th headstones and some fine lime trees. In 1863 the Vicar's wish to extend the churchyard was opposed by some parishioners. Today it adjoins Buckingham Road Cemetery, established by Ilford Burial Board in 1881 and originally known as Great Ilford Cemetery.
Practical Information
| Previously known as | The Parish Church of St Mary, Great Ilford |
|---|---|
| Site location | High Road, Ilford, Essex |
| Postcode | IG1 |
| What3Words | ///pretty.foods.prove |
| Type of Site | Churchyard |
| Borough | Redbridge |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | unrestricted |
| Public Transport | Rail: Seven Kings. Bus: 86. |
| Research Updated | 1 September 2010 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
The building of a new parish church at Ilford was under discussion in 1823 although the division of the ancient parish of Barking had first been suggested in 1650. Due to strong opposition it did not get built until 1830 when the new ecclesiastical parish of Great Ilford was created by Order in Council. It is known as Great Ilford to distinguish the parish from Little Ilford in Newham. The new parish included the whole of Ilford Ward and part of Chadwell Ward to the north of Green Lane and west of Faircross Lane. The land was donated by John Scrafton Thompson of Clements, who was a powerful supporter of Robert Hall-Dare of Cranbrook, a key mover in the formation of the new parish. The brick church was built between 1829 and 1831 to designs by James Savage in ‘Decorated style'. Its erection was celebrated by a ‘sumptuous dinner at the Angel'. The church originally consisted of the unaisled nave and a small west tower with a spire and no projecting chancel. The present tower was built in 1866 as a memorial to John and Elizabeth Davis of Cranbrook. In 1920 a tall chancel, Lady Chapel, organ chamber and vestries were added but the scheme to alter the remainder of the church was never carried out. The parish of St Mary's was subsequently divided by the creation of the parishes of Holy Trinity Barkingside in 1841 (q.v.), St Chad's in Chadwell Heath in 1895, and St Clement, Ilford in 1904 (since demolished).
St Mary the Virgin Great Ilford has a late C18th parish churchyard, now closed to new burials, with a moderate collection of early C19th headstones and some notable lime trees. In 1863 the Vicar wished to extend the churchyard but this was opposed by some of the parishioners. Today the churchyard has a decayed C19th brick wall to the south adjoining Buckingham Road Cemetery (q.v.), established by Ilford Burial Board in 1881 and originally known as Great Ilford Cemetery. A brick wall and iron gate form the boundary to Ilford High Road. There is a fine cedar by the west door of the church.
St Mary the Virgin Great Ilford has a late C18th parish churchyard, now closed to new burials, with a moderate collection of early C19th headstones and some notable lime trees. In 1863 the Vicar wished to extend the churchyard but this was opposed by some of the parishioners. Today the churchyard has a decayed C19th brick wall to the south adjoining Buckingham Road Cemetery (q.v.), established by Ilford Burial Board in 1881 and originally known as Great Ilford Cemetery. A brick wall and iron gate form the boundary to Ilford High Road. There is a fine cedar by the west door of the church.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ448868 |
|---|---|
| Site Ownership | Church of England |
| Site Management | Churchyard maintained by Westerleigh Group from Forest Park Cemetery & Crematorium, Hainault |
| Dates | 1831 |
| Listed Structures | Church locally listed |
| On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens | No |
| Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965 | No |
| Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931 | No |
| Local Authority | Redbridge |
| In Conservation Area | No |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | Yes - Local Importance |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | Yes - Archaeology Priority Area |
Please note the Inventory and its content are provided for your general information only and are subject to change. It is your responsibility to check the accuracy.
Nearby parks and gardens
Ilford Burial Board, established in 1880, laid out Buckingham Road Cemetery as an extension of the burial ground of St Mary the Virgin Great Ilford and initially the cemetery was known as Great Ilford Cemetery. It had its own chapel, due to be demolished by early 2011, and the first burial took place on 4 September 1881. A memorial near the entrance commemorates Sir Peter Griggs, the 1st MP for Ilford, who died in 1920, his monument surmounted by an angel. The cemetery has notable limes, particularly on its south side with C19th railings on the west boundary.
South Park was created following Ilford Council's purchase of 32 acres of Loxford Hall Estate in 1899 and opened in 1902. It contains a large lake with several islands, formed by diverting water from Loxford Water, part of Seven Kings Brook, and the landscape has mature trees including oak, beech, lime and horse chestnut. Facilities provided included tennis courts and a bowling green with pavilion, used by Clementswood Bowling Club. The site of the bandstand remains marked by hedging and a tarmac path skirts the perimeter of the park. In 1923 the Broadway Clocktower was erected in the park, but destroyed by a WWII bomb in 1944.
Seven Kings (United) Methodist Church originated in 1903 as a Society of the United Methodist Free church, services first being held in the Central Hall. The red brick church designed by George Baines & Son, has a circular spire. It opened in 1905 and was later enlarged in 1923. One of the leading members of this church was A E Williams, secretary and biographer of Dr Barnardo. The church stands in a triangular landscaped site on sloping ground surrounded by iron railings and hedging separating it from the roads or footpath at the back. The side door to the church on Seven Kings Road is reached by a cantilevered path over the steep slope of the garden.The church garden has an avenue of trees flanking the path from the gate at the apex of the triangle to the main entrance at the junction of Balmoral Gardens and Seven Kings Road. Planting includes silver birch, holly and pine trees, and shrubs including yucca at the side slopes.