The Church of St Mary in the Parish of St Michael, St Albans and situated on The Green at Childwickbury was built in 1867 and is one of the smallest in the Diocese. It was designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott who was a friend of the Toulmin family, the then owners of the estate. Erected at their expense to service the spiritual needs of their tenants and employees it was initially a small red brick chapel which doubled as a schoolroom during the week. John Blundell Maple, the next owner of the Estate enlarged the Chapel and schoolroom and in 1890, within the Chapel grounds, erected the Maple family vault. Inside the Church is a beautiful white marble font in memory of the two Maple daughters, Winifred and Dorothy, who had died in 1886 & 1888. Memorial wall plaques to various members of the Maple family are placed close by. On June 14th 1921 the 'Childwick Chapel' as it was noted in St Michael's Church Registers was consecrated and became 'St Mary's, Childwickbury' and on August 21st 1925 a licence for Banns and Marriages was granted. In 2017 the Church of St Mary celebrated 150 years of spiritual guidance at Childwickbury and throughout the year commemorative events took place. For parochial information see St Michaels Church website www.stmichaels-parishchurch.org.uk/home.asp At the History Evening held in the church on Thursday 14th September 2017 Dr Simon Healy, a C19th scholar, and I spoke to parishioners and friends at the church. He elaborated on 'The Victorian World' and my presentation was entitled 'Childwickbury - a short history' .
