All Saints Church, Fleet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids All Saints' Church, Fleet |
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View of All Saints in April 2014
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| 51°17′02″N 0°50′34″W / 51.28389°N 0.84278°W | |
| Location | Fleet |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Broad Church |
| Website | parishoffleet.org.uk |
| History | |
| Dedication | All Saints |
| Consecrated | 29 April 1862 |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* listed |
| Architect(s) | William Burges |
| Construction cost | £3,323 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Fleet |
| Deanery | Aldershot |
| Archdeaconry | Surrey |
| Diocese | Guildford |
| Province | Canterbury |
All Saints' Church is a special church in the town of Fleet, England. It is famous because of its architect, William Burges. The church was built between 1861 and 1862. It is a Grade II* listed building, which means it's a very important historic building. In 2015, the church was badly damaged by a fire. After eight years of hard work to fix it, the church reopened in April 2023.
Contents
History and Design of All Saints' Church
The church was designed by William Burges, a well-known architect. It was built from 1861 to 1862. Later, in 1934, it was made bigger towards the west by A. J. Steadman. A special area called the Lady Chapel was added in 1958 by John Purser.
Why the Church Was Built
The church was asked for by Charles Edward Lefroy. He was a local leader and worked for the Speaker of the House of Commons. He wanted the church to be a special memorial for his wife, Janet Lefroy. Building the church cost £3,323.
Its Special Status
All Saints' Church has been a Grade II* listed building since June 1987. This means it's considered a very important building in England. A famous expert named Sir Nikolaus Pevsner once said that Fleet didn't have many special buildings, except for All Saints' Church.
What the Church Looks Like
The church is made of red bricks and has a very simple shape. Inside, the decoration is also quite simple. However, some parts, like the large stone carvings, are very typical of William Burges's style. They look very strong and solid. Janet Lefroy's father, James Walker, had a big engineering company with William Burges's father, Alfred Burges. This family connection is why William Burges was chosen to design the church.
The Fire and Rebuilding of the Church
In 2015, the church was badly damaged by a fire. On June 22, the roof and much of the inside of the church were destroyed. A local teenager was later found responsible for starting the fire.
Recovery and Reopening
The church needed a lot of work to be fixed after the fire. It took eight years to restore it. Finally, on April 30, 2023, the church was ready to hold services again. It was officially reopened on that day.
Gallery
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The church in snow (2010)
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Interior detail (2012)
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Window (2012)
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Organ (2012)
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Fire damage (2015)
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West elevation after 2023 rebuild
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