IDENTITY STATEMENT
Reference code(s): GB 0074 P93/CTC2
Held at: London Metropolitan Archives
Title: CHRIST CHURCH, WATNEY STREET: WATNEY STREET, TOWER HAMLETS
Date(s): 1842-1947
Level of description: Collection
Extent: 1.56 linear metres
Name of creator(s): Parish of Christ Church, Shadwell | Church of England
CONTEXT
Administrative/Biographical history:
On March 27th, 1839, the Mercers Company conveyed the site of three houses in Watney Street to the Church Building Commissioners. The foundation stone of Christ Church was laid on March 11th 1840 and the local firm of G. and J.W. Bridger began the erection of the church. In 1845 two houses in Watney Street were bought and adapted as a vicarage.
Most of the area was a terrible slum. The vicar, William Quekett managed to force the absentee landlord to improve conditions. He also founded the church of Saint Mary Cable Street (P93/MRY3), and built new schools. By the time he left Christ Church in 1854 the parish well established. The story of Quekett's work in the East End was told by Charles Dickens in Household Words (1850 ) under the title ' What a London Curate can do if he tries'.
The church and vicarage were damaged by enemy action in 1941 and the congregation had to share the church of Saint George in the East (P93/GEO). The ruins of the building were destroyed.
CONTENT
Scope and content/abstract:
Records of the parish of Christ Church, Watney Street, Shadwell, including registers of baptisms and marriages; papers relating to parish boundaries and the benefice; and papers regarding the refurbishment of the organ.
ACCESS AND USE
Language/scripts of material: English
System of arrangement:
The records have been sorted into categories which reflect divisions between the different functions and operations of the parish and its administration. Order within these categories reflects chronology.
Conditions governing access:
These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information are subject to access restrictions under the UK Data Protection Act, 1998.
Conditions governing reproduction:
Copyright to these records rests with the depositor.
Physical characteristics:
Fit
Finding aids:
Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
ARCHIVAL INFORMATION
Archival history:
Immediate source of acquisition:
Deposited in the London County Record Office on 2 November 1956.
ALLIED MATERIALS
DESCRIPTION NOTES
Date(s) of descriptions: April to June 2010.