St Mary’s Church, Battersea

The elegant Georgian church of St Mary's Battersea was built at a time when the village was a desirable country retreat from the busy turmoil of London. Many rich City merchants established their country houses here, and the foundation stone for this church was laid in 1775. There was probably an Anglo Saxon church on this site in 800 AD; it was enlarged over the centuries, but in poor condition by the 1700s. The church is linked to poet and artist William Blake who was married here, botanist William Curtis and artist JMW Turner who painted many river scenes from the vestry window. These three men have stained glass windows dedicated to them, along with Benedict Arnold, one of the most notorious men in the American War of Independence. Arnold was a General fighting for the Americans when he defected to the British Army in 1780, and his name became a byword in America for treachery and betrayal. He spent his last years living in Battersea and is buried at St Mary's. St Mary's Church is a Grade 1 Listed Building.