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St. Mary's Church is one of the two Churches in the Parish of Putney, the other is All Saints' Church on Putney Common. The Parish of Putney is within the Wandsworth Deanery, the Kingston Episcopal Area and the Diocese of Southwark.

The Parish is the fourth largest in the Diocese, serving some 20,000 people in an area bounded by East Putney Station in the east and Beverley Brook in the west, the River in the north and Tibbett's Corner in the south.

Samuel Pepys: mentions St Mary's in his diary for 1667, when he attended a service where he heard a "good sermon" and where "I saw the girls of the school, few of which were pretty".

A survivor of two World Wars, two arson attacks and a dose of dry rot. All Saints' stands physically and spiritually rejuvinated. Built between 1873 and 1874 on land donated by Earl Spencer, the foundation stone was laid by HRH Princess Christian of Schleswig - Holstein on April 25th, 1874.

As Lord of the Manor of Wimbledon, Earl Spencer believed Putney's rising population required another church in the parish.

Designed by William Morris and Edward Burne - Jones, the current rude health of this grade 2 listed masterpiece belies a chequered past. For most of the period from 1977 to 1989, the daughter church to St. Marys, capable of seating 511 worshippers, was on "Life support," the 8 o'clock being the only Sunday service with an average congregation of just over 20.

St. John's was sold to the Roman Catholic community in 1977 to help pay for the restauration work to St. Mary's which had been gutted by fire in June 1973. Plans for All Saints' ranged from a cosmetics warehouse to an arts centre and a library.

"Eventually James Fraser was persuaded to allow full family services once a month. That was the start of the All Saints' renaissance." He added.

There has been a centre of Christian worship on this site from at least the 13th century. The parts of the medieval church which survive today are the tower, some of the nave arcading (mid-15th century) and the Bishop West Chapel, built in the early 16th century.

The church was substantially rebuilt in 1836. In 1973 an arson attack gutted much of the church. Rebuilding was not completed until 1982, when the church was rehallowed by the Bishop of Woolwich, on February 6.

Mid-15th century. Restored in 1845, the 1960s and again in 1982 after the fire. A record of the benefactors of the parish from 1630 onwards is inscribed on the walls of the porch. There is a modern font.

Six bells were installed between 1582 and 1674. They were recast in 1836 and two more added. These bells were recast in 1972. The fire in 1973 meant further recasting and a new peal was dedicated in 1983.

Some of the pillars and arches, including some of the angels, are medieval, but both north and south arcades were widened in the rebuilding of 1836. In the restoration of 1982, the altar and the sanctuary were moved to the north side of the church, the pews replaced with chairs, and the orientation of the church turned through 90 degrees.

This arose from a renewed emphasis on corporate worship based on the Holy Communion. It was designed to facilitate the westward-facing celebration of the Eucharist, and to permit the congregation to be seated in a semi-circular arrangement round, and in easy view of, the altar.

The altar table and the corona above it are modern, designed by Ronald G. Sims, the architect of the restoration

Built at the behest of Bishop Nicholas West in the early 16th century. Note the fine vaulting of the ceiling and the two bosses with the bishop's coat of arms. Originally on the south side of the church. Moved to its present position (in mirror version) in 1836.

To the left of the entrance are again the arms of Bishop West erected by Dr Pettiward in the late 18th century - their earlier history is unknown. On the north wall there is a recess, probably a piscina, and an opening above to take the cruets.

There has been a clock in the tower since the 17th century, but the present clock is modern. The churchyard is somewhat smaller than the original. Part of it, running parallel with the river, was expropriated to build the approach way to the first bridge (wooden) across the Thames at Putney in 1729.

This portion was largely restored to the churchyard after that bridge was demolished. However, a larger portion was lost when the current stone bridge was widened and extended eastward in 19311-33.

The church across the river is All Saint's, Fulham. It dates from about 1130, and is in a different parish and diocese.

During the Civil War, the headquarters of Cromwell's army was briefly located at Putney. In 1647, meetings of the Army Council were held in the then Chancel of the church. These discussions on the future government of the realm were published as the "Putney Debates".

Although their contemporary impact was modest, they are seen as foreshadowing the arrival of Parliamentary democracy, and may have influenced the American Declaration of Independence and Constitution of the United States of America.