St. Mary Magdalen, Mortlake

Introduction

Saint Mary Magdalen, Mortlake, in the Archdiocese of Southwark, began as a Mission in 1849. The church marked its 160th anniversary in 2012.

History

Construction of the church building started in 1851 and was completed in 1852. In April 1854, the first parish priest began a school at the north end of the ground next to Church Path. In September 2019, a small part of the Nave ceiling collapsed, leading to repairs to the Parish Hall and church Nave, and in 2021 urgent safety repairs were made to an external eastern buttress and the West Window. The repair work so far has cost over £100,000.

Architecture and furnishings

The most interesting tomb in Saint Mary Magdalen's churchyard is the mausoleum shaped like an Arab tent, where the coffins of Sir Richard Burton and his wife Lady Isabel Burton can be seen through a window at the back. The Blessed Sacrament is exposed for adoration on Fridays.

Parish life

The church runs a foodbank in partnership with the Share & Care Collective. St Mary Magdalen Primary School is an important part of the church life.

Every year on the first Sunday in May, the Noble Order of the Knights and Ladies of Sir James Marshall makes a pilgrimage to lay a wreath on his tomb at the church. Parishioners can arrange baptism for a baby, child or themselves by appointment with the parish priest. By May 2026 most of the mausoleum restoration is complete and pre-booked tours can be arranged by contacting Habitats & Heritage.