In 1840 the old Parish Church (now All Saints, known as the Old Church), was in such a bad state of repair that the then Rector and lord of the manor the Reverend Robert Boothby Heathcoat decided to abandon it and build a new church on Chingford Green. Designed by Lewis Vulliamy it was built at the rectors own expense (£5000) and was dedicated by the Bishop of London on 18th July 1844.
Chingford was changing, the "pleasing rural village" was becoming a major London suburb a process speeded up by the coming of the railway in 1873. By the turn of the century it had already become apparent that a bigger church was required and Sir Arthur Blomfield drew up plans for an extended chancel and naive aisles, which were complered in 1903 and dedicated by the Bishop of St. Albans on 13th June.
The fine 12th Century FONT was originally located in th Old Church but was moved to the Parish church when it was opened.
The 17th Centaury PARISH CHEST in which the records and registers were kept and the 18th Century Pulpit were likewise moved from the Old Church.
A set of 3 BELLS were brought from the Old Church, but were returned in 1930 when a new set of six bells were installed here.
The ORGAN is a very fine instrument and was built by Norman and Beard between 1907 and 1908 and the installation completed in 1913. In recent years it has been thoroughly renevated with the aid of an English Heritage Lottery grant.
The ST ELIZABETH CHAPEL was built and completed in 1937. At this time the East Window by Christopher Webb was also, depicting the Virgin Mary, St. Elizabeth and St. John the Baptist.
There are two MEMORIALS to the Boothby Heathcoat family and these are to be ound on the North Nave wall.
The EAST WINDOW designed by Clayton and Bell was installed in 1913 and depicts Christ in Majesty with St. Gabriel, St. Micahel and St. Raphael.
The REREDOS and SANCTUARY PANELLING were erected in 1923.
The CHOIR STALLS were installed in 1913 and designed by C. J. Blomfield.
On 13th October 1940 a stick of bombs fell across the Green, one falling in the churchyard and seriously damaging the St. Elizabeth Chapel. Reconstruction had to wait until after the war. When the time came, three attractive WINDOWS by Christopher Webb were installed, depicting St. Hubert (in memory of Revd. Sidney Goldston), St. Christopher and St. Francis (in memory Teresa and Florence Craft).
The BAPTISTRY has a stained glass window dedicated to the Holy Spirit (in memory of Fr. Ian Pettitt), former Rector of the Parish.
The OAK PEWS were added after the war.
Extensive repairs have been carried out recently to the roof and spire with the aid of an English Heritage Lottery Grant.
The Old Church
The church which stands on the site today was originally built in the late 13th Century but it has been extensively altered and added to over the years. The tower was erected in about 1400 and extensive repairs were necessary in the next Century and the roof was replaced. In the 17th Century the south wall of the aisle was raised and as aresult the line of the sloping roof was broken with a seperate low-pitched roof covering the aisle creating a valley gutter in the hollow formed by the two roofs where water and leaves built up. Ivy climb the walls and roofs and the church became known as the "Green Church". By the 1840s the church building had deteriorated so much that it was considered beyond repair and was abandoned intil its restoration and reconstruction in 1930. This beautiful 13th Century church is well worth a visit and forms a vital part of our Parish life today.