St John's Church, Egham facts for kids
St. John's Church is a friendly Anglican church in the heart of Egham, Surrey. It's part of the Diocese of Guildford. Many people attend services here, with about 300 people usually coming on Sundays. The church is led by Revd Esther Prior, who became the Vicar in September 2018.
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Church History: A Look Back
The church building you see today was built a long time ago, between 1817 and 1820. The very first service in this new church happened on March 16, 1820. But did you know there has been a church on this spot since around 1150? That's almost 900 years!
The old gate at the entrance, called a lychgate, is even older than the current church building. A famous preacher named John Wesley visited Egham and preached here around 1771. Both the church and its lychgate are special historic buildings. They are listed as Grade II*, which means they are very important and protected.
Famous People and Old Stories
One interesting person buried in the churchyard is Frederic Cournet. He was a French naval officer who had to leave his home country. In 1852, he was part of the last ever duel in England, which happened nearby in Englefield Green. He was hurt in the duel and sadly passed away a few hours later.
Inside the church, in the entrance area called the narthex, you can see special shields. These shields represent the barons who were involved with the Magna Carta. They have been displayed there since 1999. Before that, they were shown on the pillars inside the main part of the church, called the nave.
Helping the Community: Local Projects
St. John's Church is very active in helping people in Egham. They run several helpful projects:
- English Language Cafe: This is a place where people who are learning English can practice speaking and make new friends.
- Christians Against Poverty Life Skills: This course helps people learn important skills for managing their money and daily life.
- The Besom: This project helps people give away things they don't need, like furniture, to others who do need them. It's a great way to share and help out.
The church also supports many other local and global projects. You can find more details about all their community work on their website.
Church in the News: Recent Events
In February 2014, the Vicar, Jeff Wattley, and some church members appeared on a TV show called "The One Show" on BBC1. They were helping people in the community who were affected by flooding at that time. It showed how the church steps up to help during difficult times.
