Busbridge Church Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids St John the Baptist, Busbridge
The church viewed from the west
51°10′38.0″N 0°36′6.4″W / 51.177222°N 0.601778°W / 51.177222; -0.601778
Location	Brighton Road, Busbridge, Godalming, Surrey GU7 1XA
Country	England
Denomination	Church of England
History
Founded	1867
Founder(s)	Mr and Mrs John Ramsden of Busbridge Hall
Dedicated	1867
Architecture
Architect(s)	George Gilbert Scott
Style	Gothic Revival
Years built	1865-1867
Administration
Parish	Busbridge
Deanery	Godalming
Archdeaconry	Surrey
Episcopal area	Guildford (Bishop of Guildford)
Diocese	Guildford

St John the Baptist Church, also known as Busbridge Church, is an Anglican Church in the village of Busbridge, near Godalming in England. It is an evangelical church, which means it focuses on the teachings of the Bible.

The church works closely with another church in the nearby village of Hambledon, Surrey. Together, they offer a variety of services for their community and run groups for over 200 children and teenagers every Sunday.

History of the Church
- Famous Designers
Memorials in the Churchyard
- The Busbridge War Memorial
- The Jekyll Family Memorials
Gallery
See also

History of the Church

The story of Busbridge Church begins with a local couple, John and Emma Ramsden, who lived at a large house called Busbridge Hall. They wanted to build a church for their community and paid for its construction.

Building work started in 1865 and took two years to complete. The church officially opened in 1867.

Famous Designers

The church was designed by a very famous architect named George Gilbert Scott. He designed it in the Gothic Revival style. This means he made it look like the grand, historic cathedrals built in the Middle Ages, with pointed arches and tall windows.

Inside, the church has many beautiful features created by other well-known artists:

A beautiful screen separating the main part of the church from the chancel (the area around the altar) was made of wrought iron by Sir Edwin Lutyens, another famous architect.
The colorful stained-glass windows were made by Morris & Co., a company famous for its art. Some windows were designed by the artist Edward Burne-Jones.
Later, more stained-glass windows were added by Archibald Keightley Nicholson.

Because of its important history and amazing design, the church is a Grade II* listed building. This is a special status given to very important buildings in England to protect them from being changed or knocked down.

This stained-glass window is a memorial for World War I. On the left is Saint Martin and Amiens Cathedral. On the right is Saint Nicholas with battleships in Scapa Flow.

Memorials in the Churchyard

The churchyard is home to several important memorials designed by the architect Sir Edwin Lutyens. Lutyens was a friend of the famous garden designer Gertrude Jekyll, who lived nearby at Munstead Wood.

The Busbridge War Memorial

After the First World War, Lutyens designed the Busbridge War Memorial to honor the soldiers from the village who died in the war. It was unveiled in 1922 and stands at the edge of the churchyard. This memorial is one of fifteen "War Crosses" designed by Lutyens, which all have a similar, simple, and powerful design. The names of the soldiers are written on a plaque inside the church.

The Jekyll Family Memorials

Lutyens also designed memorials for Gertrude Jekyll's family. These include monuments for:

Julia Jekyll (Gertrude's mother)
Francis McLaren (a politician who was married to Gertrude's niece)
A joint memorial for Sir Herbert Jekyll (Gertrude's brother), his wife Dame Agnes Jekyll, and Gertrude Jekyll herself.