St Edward the Confessor Church, Romford

St Edward the Confessor
St Edward the Confessor Church, Market Place, Romford
Denomination	Church of England
Churchmanship	Anglo-Catholic
Website	stedwardsromford.com
Architecture
Architect(s)	John Johnson (1807–1878)
Style	Victorian Gothic
Administration
Parish	Romford
Deanery	Havering
Archdeaconry	Barking
Diocese	Chelmsford
Province	Canterbury
Clergy
Vicar(s)	Mike Power
Curate(s)	Roger Clark
Laity
Organist(s)	Jonathan Venner
Verger	Chris Patmore
Listed Building – Grade II*
Designated	4 July 1952
Reference no.	1358535

The church of St Edward the Confessor is a place of worship in Romford, Essex. It is an Anglican church and forms part of the Diocese of Chelmsford. The building dates from 1849–50 and replaced an earlier church which was demolished in the mid-19 century. There has been a religious building on the site since the end of the 14th century. The current church was completed to a Victorian Gothic design by the English architect John Johnson. It was designated as a Grade II* listed building by English Heritage in 1952.

Romford's earliest known place of worship was a small chapel, dedicated to Saint Andrew, in Old Church, an area of the borough that still exists today. The chapel was established in 1177 and was built near to the River Rom from where Romford takes its name. The chapel existed into the late-14th century but it fell into ruin and was eventually demolished. Old Church, which is inside Romford's ring road, takes its name from the "Old Church of 1410".

A new church was built on the site of the present building towards the end of the 14th century; it was completed in 1410. The grounds were consecrated by Henry Chichele, Bishop of St David's, on 23 March of that year and was dedicated to the Virgin Mary and St Edward the Confessor. It had a chancel, nave and north aisle and was longer than its predecessor by 28 ft and was 14 ft wider. It had a brick tower with a ring of five bells, and later, a gallery was built at the west end, which housed a charity for orphaned children.

By 1710 the orphanage had become the St Edward's School which was founded within the vestry. The school moved to a separate building in Romford's Market Place in 1728. Almost 30 years later a replacement weight driven clock was installed and three bells were added to the peal. The building remained in use until 1844 when work on a new church to the east of the Market Place (now the war memorial in Main Road) was started. Construction at that location was abandoned in favour of the current Market Place site. By 1849 the last services were held at the Market Place church before it was demolished later that year.