Mary Ann Girling &
The Peculiar People of Plumstead
In this episode, we explore the eccentric religious sect known as the Peculiar People of Plumstead and their offshoot, the Woolworth Jumpers, led by the self-proclaimed reincarnation of Jesus, Mary Ann Girling. Active in the mid-to-late 19th century, primarily in South London, these groups were known for their fervent beliefs, faith healing practices, and unusual public displays, all taking place between the 1830s and 1880s.
Key Players:
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James Banyard and William Bridges: Founders of the Peculiar People in Essex in the 1830s.
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Mary Ann Girling: Charismatic leader who claimed to be the reincarnation of Jesus; active in the 1860s-1880s.
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Peculiar People: Religious sect active from the 1830s onward, primarily in Essex and South London.
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Woolworth Jumpers: Offshoot of the Peculiar People, led by Girling, active from the 1870s in South London and later the New Forest.
Location & Dates:
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1830s-1880s: Plumstead, Woolwich, and other parts of South London.
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1872-1886: New Forest, Hampshire, where the group relocated after being driven out of London.
Key facts:
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The Peculiar People, founded in the 1830s by James Banyard and William Bridges in Essex, were a devout Christian sect that took a literal interpretation of the Bible, rejecting medical treatment in favor of faith healing through prayer and anointing with oil.
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In the 1860s, Mary Ann Girling began having religious visions and claimed to be the reincarnation of Jesus. She attracted a devoted following, promising her adherents immortality through celibacy and strict religious observance.
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After being forced out of Plumstead, Girling and her followers, known as the Woolworth Jumpers, practiced their faith in a series of railway arches in South London. Their meetings were characterized by ecstatic dancing, jumping, and shaking, believed to be signs of divine possession.
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The Woolworth Jumpers faced significant hostility from local residents, leading to their eventual relocation to the New Forest in Hampshire. There, they lived communally, waiting for the end of the world, but struggled financially due to their non-commercial lifestyle.
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After Girling's death in 1886 from uterine cancer, the group dwindled in numbers and eventually disbanded. The remaining members became known as the New Forest Shakers, and the sect's most notable legacy is the Sway Tower, a concrete folly built by a follower in Hampshire.
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By the 1950s, the remaining Peculiar People rebranded as the Union of Evangelical Churches, adopting more mainstream Christian practices and distancing themselves from their controversial past.
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