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All Saints Church, Kingston upon Thames facts for kids

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All Saints
All Saints Church
All Saints Church, Kingston upon Thames.jpg
South-facing view from Clarence Street
51°24′37″N 0°18′22″W / 51.4104°N 0.3061°W / 51.4104; -0.3061
Location Market Place, Kingston upon Thames
Country England
Denomination Church of England
Website allsaintskingston.co.uk
Architecture
Style Norman, Decorated, Perpendicular
Years built 1120
Administration
Parish Kingston
Deanery Kingston
Archdeaconry Wandsworth
Diocese Southwark

All Saints Church is a very old church in Kingston upon Thames, southwest London. It stands between the old Market Place and the main shopping area. This church is part of the Church of England. It works with other churches, like St John the Evangelist, to help people in the area. All Saints Church is the only building in Kingston that has a special "Grade I" listing. This means it is a very important historic building.

A church has been in Kingston since Saxon times. In 838, Egbert, the King of Wessex, held an important meeting here. Seven Saxon kings of England were crowned here in the 900s. These included Æthelstan and Æthelred the Unready. The church you see today started being built in 1120. This was ordered by Henry I. The church has a cross shape with a tower in the middle. It has many old parts, like its stone walls and battlements.

History of All Saints Church

Kingston was a very important place for kings long ago. Edward the Elder was crowned here in 900. His son, Athelstan, was crowned in 925. Other kings crowned in Kingston were Edmund I (940), Eadred (946), Eadwig (955), and Edward the Martyr (975). The last Saxon king crowned here was Ethelred in 978.

Building the Church Over Time

The church building we see today began in 1120. Over the years, it was changed and made bigger. In the 1300s, the main part of the church was made wider. In the 1400s, new chapels were added. The tall wooden spire on the tower was hit by lightning in 1445. It was rebuilt in 1505.

By 1600, the church needed many repairs. The tower was rebuilt in 1708. It was made stronger with bricks. A small chapel next to the church was taken down in 1730. This happened after some of its walls fell.

Changes in the 1800s and 1900s

The church was greatly repaired in the 1800s. Old parts were fixed, and some new parts were added. For example, an old doorway was found and then removed. The organ area was also taken out. In the 1890s, new roofs were put on parts of the church.

After the First World War, a new room for the choir was built. A special chapel was also made to remember the East Surrey Regiment. This regiment also has memorial gates at the churchyard entrance. These gates were opened in 1924. They became a Grade II listed building in 2016.

Inside the Church

The church has many interesting things inside. You can see a painting from the 1300s of Saint Blaise. There is also a marble font from the 1600s. It might have been designed by Sir Christopher Wren. The church has twelve bells and an old musical instrument called a carillon. A large organ was put in the church in 1988.

Embroideries of Kings

There are beautiful embroideries inside the church. They show four of the seven kings who were crowned in Kingston. These artworks were made by Jacky Puzey.

  • Æthelstan (924-939): He was the first King of England. He was crowned in Kingston in 925.
  • Edmund (939-946): He was Athelstan's half-brother. He was known for making laws. He was crowned in Kingston in 939.
  • Eadred (946-955): He defeated a Viking leader in 954. This brought Northumbria under English control. He was crowned in Kingston in 946.
  • Eadwig (955-959): He became king at 15. He was crowned in Kingston in 956.

Memorials and Tombs

All Saints Church has many memorials for important people.

  • There is a memorial for Peter de la Rive Esq. He was a merchant from Geneva who died in 1803.
  • Cesar Picton (around 1755–1836) has a simple memorial. He came to England from Africa as a child. He later became a rich coal merchant in Kingston.
  • There is a memorial for Edmund Staunton (1600-1671). He was the vicar of Kingston for many years.
  • You can also see old stone slabs on the floor. These are memorials for people like William Cleave (died 1667). He started Cleaves Almshouses.

Robert Skerne's Brass

There is a special brass memorial for Robert Skerne (died 1437) and his wife Joanna. He was a lawyer and a Member of Parliament for Surrey. They lived in a house near the river. Another damaged brass memorial is for John Hertcombe (died 1488).

Sir Anthony Benn's Tomb

In a special area, you can find the tomb of Sir Anthony Benn. He was a judge in Kingston and London. He died in 1618. His statue shows him wearing his lawyer's robes.

Countess of Liverpool's Sculpture

There is a beautiful sculpture of Countess Louisa Theodosia (1767-1821). She is shown sitting and thinking. This sculpture was made by Sir Francis Leggatt Chantrey. She was the wife of Lord Liverpool, who was the Prime Minister. The sculpture was moved to the church after she died. Lord Liverpool's second wife, Mary, was buried at All Saints in 1846.

Davidson Family Memorials

There are two memorials for the Davidson family. They were wealthy merchants from Scotland.

  • The memorial for Duncan Davidson (1733-1799) shows a woman crying over an urn. He was a merchant who owned large farms (plantations) in other countries. He was also a Member of Parliament.
  • The memorial for Henry Davidson (1771-1827) shows him sitting in a chair. He was also a merchant and owned large farms. He was a director of the Bank of England.

Sir Philip Medows' Monument

This monument was made by John Flaxman. It shows a winged angel next to an urn. The angel is holding an open book. Sir Philip Medows (1717-1781) was a park ranger. He was married to Lady Frances Pierrepont.

Stained Glass Windows

The church has twenty stained glass windows. Most of them are from the Victorian era (1800s). The oldest one is from 1852. Many were designed by Nathaniel Westlake. Other windows were made by Burlison and Grylls.

  • The East window (1860) shows scenes from the life of Jesus.
  • A window in the Holy Trinity Chapel (1953) shows St Michael fighting a dragon.
  • Another window in the Holy Trinity Chapel (1928) shows St George fighting a dragon.
  • Some windows have very old glass from the 1400s and 1500s.
  • The West window (1863) shows Jesus in glory, surrounded by his followers.

Images for kids

  • Kingston, All Saints, East Surrey Regiment memorial gates

    Memorial gates for the East Surrey Regiment

  • Kingston, All Saints church, chancel looking west

    Inside the church, looking towards the west

  • Kingston, All Saints church, monument for Philip Medows

    The monument for Philip Medows

  • Kingston, All Saints church, monument for Henry Davidson, figure

    Davidson memorial by Charles Regnart

  • Kingston, All Saints church, Memorial to Henry Davidson by John Ternouth, figure

    Henry Davidson memorial by John Ternouth

  • Kingston, All Saints church, from the churchyard

    All Saints Church from the churchyard

  • Kingston, All Saints church, Holy Trinity Chapel

    The Holy Trinity Chapel inside the church

  • Countess of Liverpool memorial, All Saints, Kingston 05

    The sculpture of Countess Louisa Theodosia

  • Kingston, All Saints church, memorial for Sir Anthony Benn

    The monument for Sir Anthony Benn

  • Carved angel, All Saints church, Kingston upon Thames

    A carved angel inside the church

  • All Saints church, Embroidery panels of four kings

    Embroidery panels showing four kings

  • Kingston, All Saints church, south aisle east window in chancel

    Stained glass window: Christ and the four Evangelists

  • Kingston, All Saints church, East window

    Stained glass window: Scenes from the life of Christ

  • Kingston, All Saints church, south wall chancel eastern window

    Stained glass window: Angels announcing Jesus' birth

  • Kingston, All Saints church, central south aisle window

    Stained glass window: St Peter and the Centurion Cornelius

  • All Saints church, Kingston upon Thames, glass

    Stained glass window: Scenes from the Old Testament

  • Kingston, All Saints church, Holy Trinity Chapel, eastern window on north wall

    Stained glass window: St Michael slaying the dragon

  • Kingston, All Saints church, Holy Trinity Chapel, western window on north wall

    Stained glass window: St George slaying the dragon

  • Kingston, All Saints church, north aisle eastern window

    Stained glass window: Old glass pieces

  • Kingston, All Saints church, north aisle west window

    Stained glass window: The three Maries at the Tomb

  • Kingston, All Saints church, north aisle western window

    Stained glass window: Arms of King's College, Cambridge

  • Kingston, All Saints church, north clerestory window

    Stained glass window: St Andrew, St Peter, St James

  • Kingston, All Saints church, south aisle eastern window

    Stained glass window: Martha and Mary

  • Kingston, All Saints church, south aisle western window

    Stained glass window: St Michael and the dragon

  • Kingston, All Saints church, south clerestory window

    Stained glass window: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel

  • Kingston, All Saints church, south transept west aisle window

    Stained glass window: "Nunc Dimittris"

  • Kingston, All Saints church, south transept window

    Stained glass window: The "Magnificat"

  • Kingston, All Saints church, south wall chancel western window

    Stained glass window: Scenes from the life of Abraham

  • Kingston, All Saints church, Vicar's burial ground east window

    Stained glass window: Jesus healing a woman

  • Kingston, All Saints church, window on west wall south aisle

    Stained glass window: Jesus with his disciples and children

  • West Window, All Saints church, Kingston upon Thames

    Stained glass window: Christ in Majesty

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