All Saints Church, Kingston upon Thames facts for kids
Quick facts for kids All Saints |
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| All Saints Church | |
South-facing view from Clarence Street
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| 51°24′37″N 0°18′22″W / 51.4104°N 0.3061°W | |
| Location | Market Place, Kingston upon Thames |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| 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 and important church in Kingston upon Thames, southwest London. It's located right between the old Market Place and the busy shopping area. This church is part of the Church of England and works with other local churches to serve the community. It's special because it's the only building in Kingston that has a "Grade I" listing, meaning it's a really important historic building.
A church has been on this spot since Saxon times, over 1000 years ago! In 838, King Egbert of Wessex held a big meeting here. Later, seven Saxon kings of England, including Æthelstan and Æthelred the Unready, were crowned at Kingston in the 900s. The church you see today started being built in 1120, ordered by King Henry I of England. It has been changed and added to many times since then.
The church has a cross shape, with a tower in the middle. It has a main area called the nave, with tall windows (a clerestory), a choir area, and side sections called aisles and chapels. The outside is made of flint stone with stone decorations and a fancy stone wall at the top.
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History of All Saints Church
King Edward the Elder was crowned in Kingston in 900. His son, Athelstan, was crowned here in 925. Many other kings were also crowned in Kingston, including Edmund I in 940 and Ethelred the Unready in 978.
Outside the church's south door, you can see outlines on the ground. These show where the older Saxon church and a chapel once stood. The current church building began in 1120. Over the years, it grew bigger. In the 1300s, the main part of the church was made wider. In the 1400s, the choir and two chapels were added.
The tall wooden spire on the tower was hit by lightning in 1445 and mostly destroyed. It was rebuilt in 1505. By 1600, the church needed a lot of repairs. In 1708, the tower was rebuilt with bricks and decorated with pineapple shapes on the corners. A chapel called St. Mary's was taken down in 1730 after some walls fell, sadly killing the church caretaker.
The church was greatly repaired in the 1800s by architects like Brandon and John Loughborough Pearson. Old parts were removed, and new roofs were added. After the First World War, a new room for the choir was built. A special memorial chapel was also added for the East Surrey Regiment. This regiment also has memorial gates at the south entrance to the churchyard. These gates were opened in 1924 and are now a separate historic building.
Inside the Church
The church has many interesting features inside. You can see a wall painting from the 1300s of Saint Blaise. There's also a marble font (a basin for baptisms) from the 1600s, possibly designed by Sir Christopher Wren. The church has twelve bells and a musical instrument called a carillon from the 1700s. The large window at the west end is from the 1800s, and a modern organ was installed in 1988.
Special Memorials
All Saints Church is home to several important memorials. These are like special statues or plaques that remember people from the past.
- There is a memorial for Peter de la Rive, a merchant from London who passed away in 1803 at 97 years old.
- Cesar Picton (who lived from about 1755 to 1836) has a simple memorial. He was brought to England from Africa as a child. He later became a successful coal merchant in Kingston.
- You can also find a memorial for Edmund Staunton, who was the vicar (a type of priest) of Kingston from 1633 to 1658. It also remembers ten of his children.
- On the floor of the chancel (the area near the altar), there are old stone slabs that cover graves. These include memorials for William Cleave, who started almshouses (housing for poor people), and Dr. William Finny, a local politician and historian.
Brass for Robert Skerne
There's a special brass plaque for Robert Skerne (who died in 1437) and his wife Joanna. He was a lawyer and a Member of Parliament for Surrey.
Another damaged brass plaque remembers the merchant John Hertcombe (who died in 1488) and his wife Katherine.
Sir Anthony Benn
In a special alcove on the south wall, you'll find the tomb of Sir Anthony Benn. He was a judge for Kingston and later for London. He died in 1618. His tomb shows a statue of him lying down in his judge's robes.
Countess Louisa Theodosia of Liverpool
Between the south door and the tower is a beautiful sculpture of Countess Louisa Theodosia (1767-1821). She is shown sitting gracefully. This sculpture was made by Sir Francis Leggatt Chantrey. Louisa was the wife of Lord Liverpool, who was the Prime Minister from 1812 to 1827. The statue was moved to the church after her husband passed away.
Davidson Family Memorials
In the south part of the church, there are two memorials for members of the Scottish Davidson family.
- The monument for Duncan Davidson (1733-1799) shows a woman crying over an urn. He was a merchant and a Member of Parliament.
- The monument showing Henry Davidson (1771-1827) sitting in a chair was made by John Ternouth. Henry Davidson was a merchant and a director of the Bank of England.
Sir Philip Medows Monument
This monument, made by John Flaxman, shows a winged angel next to an urn. The angel is holding open a book. It remembers Sir Philip Medows (1717-1781), who was in charge of part of Richmond Park.
Stained Glass Windows
The church has twenty beautiful stained glass windows. Most of them are from the Victorian era (1800s). Some were designed by Nathaniel Westlake. Other windows were made by Burlison and Grylls.
- South aisle east window (1852): Shows Christ and the four writers of the Gospels.
- East window (1860): Features scenes from the life of Jesus, with the Crucifixion in the center.
- Chancel south wall eastern window (1861): Depicts angels telling shepherds about Jesus' birth.
- South aisle central window (1886): Shows St Peter and the Centurion Cornelius.
- Holy Trinity Chapel, East window (1860): Features scenes from the Old Testament, like Abel's sacrifice.
- Holy Trinity Chapel, eastern window on north wall (1953): Shows St Michael fighting a dragon.
- Holy Trinity Chapel, western window on north wall (1928): Shows St George fighting a dragon.
- North aisle eastern window (1956): Contains older glass pieces from the 1400s and 1500s.
- North aisle west wall window (1866): Shows the three Marys at Jesus' tomb.
- North aisle western window (1956): Features coats of arms, including King's College, Cambridge.
- North clerestory window (1860): Shows St Andrew, St Peter, and St James.
- South aisle eastern window (1887): Shows Martha and Mary.
- South aisle western window (1920): Depicts St Michael and a dragon, with angels.
- South clerestory window (1860): Shows the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel.
- South transept west aisle window (1887): Shows the presentation of Jesus in the Temple.
- South transept window (1886): Shows the Annunciation (when Mary was told she would have Jesus).
- South wall chancel western window (1861): Features scenes from the life of Abraham.
- Vicar's burial ground east window (1860): Shows Jesus healing a woman and raising Jairus' daughter.
- South aisle west wall window (1880): Shows Jesus with his disciples and children.
- West window (1863): Shows Christ in Majesty, surrounded by apostles.
Images for kids
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All Saints Church
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Holy Trinity Chapel
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Countess of Liverpool memorial
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Sir Anthony Benn monument
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Carved angel
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Memorial gates
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Chancel
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Philip Medows monument by John Flaxman
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Davidson memorial by Charles Regnart
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Henry Davidson memorial by John Ternouth
