A brief history of the building …

The Saxon church of St Laurence, in the west of the parish of Upton-cum-Chalvey, was once the main parish church of the former village of Upton. By 1830 it had fallen into such disrepair that, seven years later, a new church had to be built on the site of the present day St Mary’s. Set in four acres of land on the edge of the ancient village of Upton, between Church Street and Windsor Road, (build to link the neighbouring Eton and Windsor with the Great Western Railway), the church was to be a monument to Slough’s growing status as a flourishing industrial town.

In 1874, the unremarkable Georgian Church was replaced with a neo-Gothic building. Planned by John Oldrid Scott, a son of Sir Gilbert Scott, the construction of St Mary’s preoccupied the architect from 1875 until the completion of the church spire in 1913. In 1878 an enlarged building, consisting of the Georgian nave and a new gothic sanctuary, chancel and transepts, was dedicated. In the meantime, funds were raised to complete Scott’s plans. BY 1912, it was possible to demolish the Georgian nave in order to replace it with a neo-gothic nave. A benefaction from Slough businessman James Elliman made it possible to complete the tower and spire by 1913.

The Corpus figure in the churchyard

In July 2022 we submitted the necessary papers to the Diocese for the faculty to allow the sculptor to start work to replace the Corpus figure which was vandalised and removed several years before.

The cross and figure were installed after the First World War by the Guild of Servers to commemorate their members who died in that conflict and has been a focal point in the town since then. It is widely used by many of all faiths and is regularly surrounded by flowers and candles.

The new Corpus Christi was consecrated on 21 May 2023. See the Gallery page for photos and information on the sculptor.

Unique stained glass …

Within the building, there are numerous examples of fine stained glass, an outstanding piece of which is the Church’s West Window (1915). Commissioned by Mary Ellen Elliman, sister of the church’s benefactor James Elliman, it was created by the Jewish artist Alfred Wolmark (1877-1961). Groundbreaking and daring for its time, it inspired John Piper’s design for the windows of Coventry Cathedral. Elliman wished to commission a piece of art in an entirely new and unparalleled style. Woolmark, an exiled Warsaw Jew, had become renowned for his new approach to colour. His artistic breakthrough was in 1911 when, at a post-impressionist exhibition in London, his own work was exhibited with that of Vincent van Gogh. His rejection of form and acceptance of intense, raw colour appealed to Sir Joseph Duveen, who had been approached by Elliman. It took Wolmark two years to complete the window. Wolmark’s window channels the daylight intriguingly; in the morning amass with reds, purples and blues, as the sun is setting, yellow and orange panels are highlighted and bring to life a sea of greens.

The windows in the Sanctuary were designed by Charles Earner Kempe. The fine east window dates back to 1889 and depicts Christ in glory with the twelve apostles. Each panel has a traditional medieval canopy, and each apostle is shown with two guardian angels with Kempe’s distinctive peacock feathered wings. On either side of the sanctuary are two tall lancet windows. The four evangelists on the north are mirrored by four prophets to the south: Isiah, Jertemiah, Micah and Hosea. At the east end of the north aisle the window depisctin Saint Frideswide (Patron of the Diocese of Oxford) is the last window produced in the Kempe studios. The glass in the aisles was designed by Nuttgens, Pawle, Smith and the studios of Shrigley & Hunt.

William Herschel – new music  2024

Licensing Service – held 22 May 2024

This was an amazing service celebrating our church life and our good relationships with our schools and our town.  Welcome Fr Andrew.

Fr Andrew is very grateful for the support from across the parish at his licensing held at St Peter’s last Wednesday.  It was an uplifting experience and he and his family feel truly welcome to Slough.

He serves as Team Vicar at St Peter’s and as Chaplain to Slough & Eton College.  He writes, “I’m looking forward very much to working alongside you all as together we seek to witness and serve among the people of Chalvey and beyond”.

For now, Caroline, his wife, continues to live and work in Manchester as a Methodist superintendent minister, spending several days every couple of weeks in Slough, before relocating next summer (2025).

At Fr Andrew’s Licensing Service the collection of over £260 was given to the BIshops’s Fund for Mission. Thank you.

School’s own music at St Mary’s

Showcasing highlights of the concert given on 14 July 2023.

Music by William Herschel and new Herschel inspired songs by pupils of St Mary’s Primary School and Eton & Slough College.

Watch and enjoy

New William Herschel music – 2022

It’s the bicentenary year this year for William Herschel’s death, and alongside his incredible work as an internationally celebrated astronomer (he discovered Uranus amongst other achievements), he was a composer.
The Dionysus Ensemble are incredibly excited to have been given permission to record some of his previously unknown works, creating the first ever recordings of them – at St Mary’s!
These two trio sonatas were transcribed from William Herschel’s manuscript & made into printed parts specifically for The Dionysus Ensemble to record, they haven’t been played since before his death 200 years ago so no one in living memory has heard this music!

Local Slough based The Dionysus Ensemble had a fascinating time going back to the handwritten manuscript during the recording sessions to confirm details and check original features, and are thrilled to be able to share these two previously unexplored and unrecorded works.

William Herschel lived, married and is buried in Slough, and as a Slough based Ensemble making the recording in Slough, The Dionysus Ensemble are honoured to be able to bring this music to life again.

Here’s the music: Online choices I hope that you enjoy it!

The Dionysus Ensemble
www.thedionysusensemble.com

Platinum Jubilee 2022

Headline news on the Oxford Diocese website June 2022

Commonwealth Jubilee Music Celebration

“As part of the Commonwealth’s celebrations for HM The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, the Commonwealth Secretariat has again commissioned The Dionysus Ensemble to draw creatives from across the Commonwealth together to mark this historic event.

This video features a ​new piece of music co created by Commonwealth musicians, composers & creatives, and illustrated by Commonwealth artists & photographers, to demonstrate the variety & wide array of incredible wild & scenic locations around the Commonwealth, celebrating & sharing the diverse environmental riches in the Commonwealth.

This really unique project is where the piece of music itself has been created by ideas and influences sent in from all over the Commonwealth, so influences from traditional & folk tunes are incorporated alongside sounds from nature, and musical compositions created by individuals composing in their home countries. All of this is illustrated by wonderful photos and art works of stunning natural sight & locations showing off just some of the incredible sights the Commonwealth has to offer.

Watch the video here :youtube

You can see all of the submitted photos & art work showcasing amazing natural beauty from right across the Commonwealth here :youtube
Download or stream the audio track: links “

Watch the previous pan Commonwealth project during the pandemic    https://youtu.be/9nraTLDkr4c

St Mary’s starring in Minder

Minder Season 10 Episode 5   The Immaculate Contraption.

St Mary’s starring in Minder  at about 35 minutes into the YouTube Arthur Daly enters from the door near the kitchen.

Creative Academy   2003

Some of their performance was filmed in St Mary’s   Watch on YouTube