Benedict Arnold's Grave at St. Mary’s Battersea

St. Mary's Church, quietly nestled along the south side of the river Thames, serves as the final resting spot for the infamous Revolutionary War turncoat Benedict Arnold, his equally infamous wife Peggy Shippen Arnold, who relocated to London after their plans to surrender West Point and Commander George Washington went awry. The crypt now serves as a community space, making for a more humble spot for eternal rest than some of the other famous players involved in their story (John André, for instance, who was the third conspirator in their plot, is buried quite grandly in the Nave at Westminster).  

Upstairs, there is a modern stained glass window installed in the 1970s serving as a tribute to Arnold, a man whose motivations have long been a source of historical dispute and fascination. 

There are also modern stained glass windows honoring poet William Blake (who was married in the church in 1782), painter J.M.W. Turner (who painted many of his riverscapes from the vestry), and botanist William Curtis (who collected floral samples from the church grounds).  

The original church was built on the site in 800 AD, and the current building was finished in 1777.

St. Mary's Battersea is a working Anglican church and is free to visit and open to the public.