About Us
Serving God And The Community For more than 180 years.
Since 1844 St Michael’s Church in Wood Green has been serving both God and the community and our Church has stood and continues to stand as a sign of God’s loving presence for all who pass by.
In 1843 the residents of Wood Green had to walk to the Parish Church of All Hallows, Tottenham to attend Church. The growth of the population required that a Church be built at Wood Green, at the beginning of October 1844 St Michael’s was consecrated.
The changes that have occurred since then have been amazing. Yet our calling remains the same – to worship the Lord our God and to live the Gospel life of service to the community. To God be glory. Amen
As it was in the beginning…
St Michael’s Chapel of Ease, the Church at the top of the hill, was built to the designs of Messrs Scott and Moffatt. It was consecrated for worship on 3rd October 1844 by the then Bishop of London, Bishop Bloomfield. The parish was served by the clergy of All Hallow’s Church, Tottenham and in 1851 the record of attendance showed 28 souls at morning worship and 85 in the evening. Following a number of building complications including having to close the Church for a period of time.
Fr Jones Thomas, our first Vicar, was appointed in 1862. The population had now risen to 3,500. Fr Thomas was a real driving force building up to Church and the parish and was instrumental in the building of St Michael’s School. He served for 45 years before his retirement in 1907 and he laid the foundations upon which others could build.
The story continues…
Since the beginning we have been served by 11 Parish Priests and many Curates all of whom have added significant contributions to the life and worship of the parish. They together with the faithful congregation have prayed and worked hard to hand on the baton of faith to those who came after them. We strive to make most of the God given opportunities to continue building His kingdom here in Wood Green. We are eager to reach out to those who like us seek to love and serve our Lord Jesus Christ, and those who have yet to discover Christs unwavering love, in our beautiful, diverse and vibrant part of North London.
St Michael-at-Bowes…
The parish of Saint Michael-at-Bowes was formed in 1874 from the already existing parishes of Southgate and Saint Michael’s, Wood Green. Renowned Church architect, Sir Gilbert Scott, designed and oversaw the construction of the original Church on Palmerston Road. Built on the estate of Bowes Manor, home of Alderman Thomas Sidney (Lord Mayor of London), who financed practically the whole enterprise. The foundation stone was laid on 28th October 1872, and the building consecrated on 21st April 1874. St Michael-at-Bowes would go on to also run the mission churches of Saint Peter Bounds Green, Saint Mary the Virgin Tottenhall and also one in Tile Kiln Lane. The community at St Michael-at-Bowes worshipped in the original building for almost a whole century, before damp, cold and dry rot caused structural damage which led to the decision to pull down the building and replace it. In 1982 under the leadership of Fr John Broadhurst (the later Bishop of Fulham) St Michael at Bowes and St Michael’s Wood Green became a new Team Ministry working together under the leadership of a Rector, Team Vicar and Parish Curate.
The new church and hall took 2yrs to complete, and the foundation stone (the original from the old Church), was laid on 19th Nov. 1987. The church was consecrated for worship on 7th June, 1988. The old bell was re-hung, the alabaster altar piece was restored practically in its original position, and the marble reredos was used to provide the new altar, lectern, font and credence table. A new cross was designed and painted by Francis Stephens to hang behind the altar, and new statues of Michael and the Blessed Virgin Mary made by Sigfried Pietsch.
Today the worshipping and missional community of St Michael-at-Bowes is the Anglican presence for the other half of The Wood Green Parish.
The Community of the Wood Green Parish…
Our dynamic community enjoys coming together both for social events and acts of devotion. Breaking bread together both at the altar and in the kitchen forms regular parts of our communal life. Whether its quiz evenings, formal dinners or celebrations we are always looking to deepen the fellowship we enjoy with the members of our worshipping community.
There are also many day trips that are organised and run by members of our parish, making use of the Parish minibus. Parishioners have had the opportunity to visit a number of places over the course of the past year from Colchester to Bicester. There are also larger parish outings to events such as Eastbourne Airshow.
We are also very much a pilgrim parish. We have an annual parish pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham at the end of August, but also go on regular smaller pilgrimages to the Shrine throughout the year. As well as Walsingham, The Wood Green Parish undertakes regular pilgrimages to Europeans shrine sites, most recently to Rome and Assisi. Other pilgrimages have taken our community to Lourdes and even to Oberammergau to witness the Passion Play.