Entrance to St Mary's Church, Sanderstead

Image: © Marathon Taken: 14 Apr 2012

The modern church of St Mary's is located on the corner of Beech Avenue and Purley Oaks Road. Here Beech Avenue is to the right and Purley Oaks Road is to the left. In 1801 the Parish of Sanderstead was centred on All Saints church at the top of Sanderstead Hill - see http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2899488 . The coming of the railway to Sanderstead in 1884 and to Purley Oaks in 1889 led to new housing springing up round Purley Oaks and Sanderstead stations. It was realised that further provision would have to be made for those who wished to worship regularly and nearer to their homes. Land on which to erect a temporary church building was donated by Mr Arkwright from the Arkwright Estate. The original building is now the church hall and is still used today. It was opened in February 1908 by the Bishop of Southwark. An extension to the building was added in 1915 and at the same time plans were made, and fund-raising started, for the building of a permanent church. The original intention was for the church to be built in a 14th-century style with a seating capacity of 846, but after the First World War the plans were reduced to a building seating about 500. Work was started on July 21st, 1925 and it was completed in 1926 at a cost of £9,112.

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