Stella Maris

Outside 

The word Maris is carved beneath the parapet on top of the front of the tower beneath the spire.

Above the main entrance is Mary with a star in a niche above the window, guiding light and protector, particularly for those who live near the sea (in this case the Thames). It is a reminder of Mary’s role as mother, a source of comfort and guidance for all.

‘Sweetly smiling down on all who enter these religious doors’

Above the side entrance to the church is a beautiful statue that few people get to see. Set above the door is Our Lady St Anne with Mary as a child of about seven or eight years old looking up to her mother. 

Inside

The ceiling of the chancel above the altar is made up of 36 panels bearing monograms of Mary. It is known as a wagon roof, so called because it resembles the inside of an old-fashioned covered wagon. Pugin also designed carved cornices of foliage with the words of lines from the hymn Ave Maris Stella.

The high altar has frontal compartments which feature Our Lady seated, with scenes of the Annunciation and Visitation on either side. 

Outside the altar rails is a stone statue of the Virgin with Child, designed by AWN Pugin. It is situated to the left of the arched screen in a large niche within a pinnacled canopy. The votive lamp shaped like a boat which hangs beside is another reference to the maritime connections of the early parishioners. 

It has the MR monogram – ‘Maria Regina’ in Latin, or ‘Mary Queen’. This is also echoed in the four corners of the recently uncovered floor tiles in the votive square, where there would have been a candle stand in front of the statue for offering prayers to Our Ladye.

‘Guiding star’

The MR monogram inspired this new website's emblem logo. Adjacent to each floor tile monogram is a gold fleur-de-lis. The lily symbolises purity, the Immaculate Conception, associated with the Virgin Mary.

The Lady Chapel to the side has a large carved reredos of the Blessed Virgin Mary standing on a dragon surrounded by angels. Originally there were M emblems on the wall, as can be seen in the photograph from 1957. There is Ave Maris Stella stencilling to the side wall, below an angel.

The window nearby depicts the Virgin and her mother, St Anne. The large window behind the altar has five panels featuring the Annunciation, Nativity, Assumption and Coronation, with the centre panel as the Mary Guiding Star of Sailors. The window in the Sacred Heart chapel depicts the woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and a crown of 12 stars on her head. Even the bell is inscribed: “Mary without blemish hear the sound of those who beg for help”.

For more details about the windows and other features mentioned see Tour of the church.