St Matthias in Stoke Newington

The west end of the churchchurch of St Matthias Stoke Newington (c.1940). Source: RIBA48761

The location of St Matthias Stike Newington, London N16.

St Matthias Stoke Newington, London N16, c.2019

Aerial view of the grounds of St Matthias Stoke Newington, London. 2019, [Source: Google Maps]

The east end of the church of St Matthias Stoke Newington N 16, c.1940. Source: RIBA48762

The Anglican church of St Matthias in Stoke Newington, London (UK) is an imposing mid-c19 building located in a modest side-street of this densely populated, multicultural district of north London. The parochial area was established in 1849 and the church building was constructed 1851-53 to the designs of the architect William Butterfield (1814–1900).

From its earliest years the church of St Matthias was home to “high-church” ritual, and remains firmly rooted in the Catholic traditions of the Church of England.

Pulpit (1868; no longer present), designed by George Gilbert Scott for St Matthias Stoke Newington, church. Source: The Builder, 6/6/1898.

St Matthias Stoke Newington, London N16, looking east, c.1908 [Source: Bumpus]

CHurch of St Matthias Stoke Newington, London N16. Archtictect’s drawing (1851-3). Source Incorporated Church Buildings Society ICBS04436

Archtiect’s preliminary drawing of St Matthias Stoke Newington, London N16, south-west view, no date. Source: Collage 304763

The building occupies a surprisingly spacious site – not immediately obvious – comprising  church halls, a post-war  vicarage and recently rebuilt St Matthias primary school, all separated by well-kept tranquil grounds .

High altar at St Matthias Stoke Newington, London N16.

Interior looking north-west at St Matthias Stoke Newington, London N16.

Interior looking east at St Matthias Stoke Newington, London N16.

The tower-crossing at St Matthias Stoke Newington, London N16.

In 1954 – following substantial war-damage – a reconstruction of the church (with a new vicarage) was completed to the design of Nugent Cachemaille-Day (1896–1976). Although most of the original fittings and decorative scheme had been irretrievably lost, Cachemaille-Day’s bright, broad and lofty ‘restoration’ has a powerful numinous quality.

The pipe organ

Organ gallery at St Matthias Stoke Newington, London N16.

Console of the pipe-organ at St Matthias Stoke Newington, London N16.

Builder’s plate on the pipe-organ at St Matthias Stoke Newington, London N16.

Detail of the rgan gallery at St Matthias Stoke Newington, London N16.

The current four-manual and pedal pipe organ (1952) sits on a fine west gallery and is the work of Noterman & Co of London. It contains some pipework from the church’s former instrument, by Henry Willis & Co. A detailed technical description is online with the National Pipe Organ Register (see References).

The first organist at St Matthias was W.H. Monk, a pioneer in the reintroduction of plainsong to Anglican worship. He remained in this post for 37 years until his death in 1889. Shortly after arriving at St Matthias Monk was appointed (1857) the first editor of the Church of England’s ubiquitous Hymns Ancient and Modern. He also held posts at the University of London (Bedford College and King’s College) and the Royal College of Music.

Today W. H. Monk’s most-performed work is the music for the hymn Abide With Me (Eventide).

Stephen Jasper – present-day Director of Music at St Matthias Stoke Newington – plays W. H. Monk’s tune ‘Eventide’ (Abide with me).

Sources

• ‘William Butterfield‘. Wikipedia. Online resource, accessed 23 June 2019
• T. F. Bumpus. London Churches Churches Ancient and Modern (T. Laurie: London, 1908)
• ‘Nugent Cachemaille-Day‘. Wikipedia. Online resource, accessed 23 June 2019
• ‘N. F. Cachemailled-Day. A search for somwthing more’, by  Anthony Hill. The Thirties Society Journal, No. 7 (1991), pp. 20-27
• St Matthias Stoke Newington, parish website. Online resource, accessed 21 June 2019
• ‘St Matthias Stoke Newington‘, A Church Near You. Online resource accessed 21 June 2019
• ‘St Matthias Stoke Newington, Wordsworth Road, Hackney’; records (1848-1993) in the London Metropolitan Archives, ref. P94/MTS
• ‘William Henry Monk‘. Wikipedia. Online resource, accessed 23 July 2019.