St Mary The Boltons

Surrounded by some of the most expensive real estate in the world, St Mary’s looks like a country church dropped into central London, and indeed almost disappears behind the dense trees and hedges of the gardens in the centre of the Boltons.
The church itself is the work of the architect George Godwin, and was constructed 1849 – 50 on the then developing Gunter Estate. It was largely financed by the first incumbent, Rev Hogarth Swale.
The church is largely in the Decorated Gothic style, with an aisleless cruciform plan. The exterior is very attractive, of Kentish ragstone and Bath stone dressings, with a short tower and spire (added in 1854). It sits in the middle of a lozenge-​shaped garden, with park benches for visitors to admire the little garden next to the main west entrance.
Entering via the West Door, the interior comes as rather a shock: it is severely whitewashed, and much of the stained glass was removed after War damage. The dark, heavy roof is supported on carved corbels showing the apostles, although these are hard to see through the whitewash. The altar was moved forward to the crossing in 1952, and the chancel turned into a Lady Chapel. I’m not convinced this presentation works — it feels in dire need of some memorials or banners on the nave walls to liven it up.
Still, it retains its oak pews, and has an interesting and attractive bronze Pieta by Naomi Blake in St Luke’s Chapel, as well as Godwin’s original font. A few Victorian stained glass windows also survive, although the most notable is the bold, primitive-​style East window by Margaret Kaye, inserted in 1955.
The church itself is the centre of a busy Parish, with services in ‘the best liberal Anglican tradition’ according to its website.