The Church of Saint Mary The Virgin, Manhattan, New York

 

St. Mary’s original church was founded in 1868 as the Episcopal parish church located at 228 West 45th Street which is now the site of the Booth Theatre. The congregation had outgrown the church by 1890.

Thomas McKee Brown took his plan for a new church to Horacio Potter, Bishop of New York. Potter suggested a church was needed near Longacre Square which was renamed Times Square in 1905. It’s construction was completed in 1895 and it’s architect was Napoleon LeBrun who used a French Gothic style.

Today the church is known for its solemn liturgies and choral and organ music. The church has gained the nickname “Smoky Mary’s” due to the amount of incense used in the services. In 1996/7 the interior was restored by J.Lawrence Jones & Associates who put in vivid colours including cobalt blue vaulting with gold stars. 

St. Leonard’s Church, Hythe

 

St. Leonard’s Church was built in the late 11th century and is a Grade I listed building. Falling under the diocese of Canterbury it is still in active use. It’s eastern tower was destroyed in an earth tremor in 1739 and restored in 1750. The church is known for its medieval graffiti and being one of only two English churches to retain an ossuary - further pictures and details of that can be found here. 

The church site has had a place of worship since Saxon times. St. Leonard’s is built of Kentish ragstone with Caen stone window dressings. On May 25th 1917 sixteen Gotha twin-engined German aircraft dropped bombs over Ashford, Lyminge, Folkestone, Lympne and Hythe. One bomb fell in the churchyard mortally wounding the Verger who died later in hospital - he had been talking with the Vicar who escaped unhurt. In 1940 another bomb damaged the east end of the church destroying the Victorian stained glasses window. It’s replacement by Wallace Wood was unveiled in 1951. 

The church contains three to four hundred individual pieces of graffiti although many are only visible in the correct light. These include masons’ marks, crosses, “witch marks” and depictions of ships, fish, demons, a dragon and human figures.