St Mary’s Parish Church (Grade I Listing)
Location: Church Street, Slough (west side).

The foundation stone of this church, was laid in 1835 by H R H Prince George of Cambridge. The architect was W Scamp Clerk of Works at Windsor Castle.

The church was consecrated the following year, by the Rt. Revd. J. Kaye, Lord Bishop of Lincoln, and dedicated to St Laurence. (It was intended to replace the then derelict Norman church at Upton). It was a plain oblong building with a tower, having very uncomfortable pews. Unfortunately the church was not registered for marriages and so all marriages which took place there were illegal until 1850, when a special Act of Parliament was passed declaring all previous marriages legal.

In 1869, it was proposed to build a new church but the plan was abandoned until 1874 when a committee was formed under the presidency of the Bishop of Oxford and comprised many local people of substance who gave generously for enlarging the church. This was consecrated in 1878. The work was completed in 1913 when the spire was added.

It was rededicated to St Mary after a new east end was added in 1878, by the Lord Bishop of Oxford. In 1913 the original church was pulled down and the present west end, tower and spire were added, the latter by the generosity of Mr Elliman. It contains a ring of ten bells, the last two donated by the Horlick family in 1950. Its greatest treasure is the abstract west window, designed by A .A. Woolmark in 1915. The Norman and Beard three-manual organ is another prized feature and the gift of the Elliman family.

Developments since the second world war have been the gradual removal of most of the pews and the formation of a nave altar and platform. The vestries have been designed to provide full toilet facilities. The building’s excellent acoustics make it a popular venue for musical events.

Reference
The History of Slough by Maxwell Fraser 1973 Slough Corporation pp 38, 38 143
Personal research of Mr David Jewell, Head Verger.