St John the Evangelist Church, Hale, Surrey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St John's |
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| St John the Evangelist, Hale | |
St John the Evangelist
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 St John's
Location in Surrey
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| 51°13′41″N 0°47′07″W / 51.228006°N 0.785299°W | |
| Location | Hale Road, Hale, Surrey, GU9 9RP |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Liberal Catholic |
| Website | badshotleaandhale.org/ |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Founder(s) | Charles Sumner (bishop) |
| Dedication | John the Evangelist |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Parish church |
| Heritage designation | Grade II listed |
| Designated | 26 April 1950 |
| Architect(s) | Benjamin Ferrey |
| Architectural type | Romanesque Revival architecture |
| Completed | November 1844 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Badshot Lea and Hale |
| Deanery | Farnham |
| Archdeaconry | Archdeaconry of Surrey |
| Diocese | Diocese of Guildford |
St John the Evangelist Church is a special Church of England church located in Hale, Surrey. It became a church in 1844 and is now recognized as a Grade II listed building, which means it's an important historical place.
Contents
History of the Church
The church was designed by a famous architect named Benjamin Ferrey. His other buildings usually looked like old Gothic churches. But St John's is different. It has a "wild neo-Romanesque" or "neo-Norman" style. This means it looks like buildings from the Norman times, which were very strong and simple.
The church walls are made from clunch and sandstone. It also has a unique round tower with four levels.
When the Church Started
Bishop Charles Sumner officially opened the church on November 8, 1844. He was the Bishop of Winchester for many years. He lived nearby at Farnham Castle. His son, George Sumner, was also there.
Bishop Charles Sumner and his wife, Jennie, are buried in the churchyard.
Growing Bigger
Soon after it opened, the church became too small. This was because a nearby army town, Aldershot, grew very quickly. Many people moved to Hale, and the population almost doubled. By 1861, nearly 3,000 people lived there.
The church could only hold 175 people. More space was needed for the growing community. So, they decided to make the church bigger.
Church Expansion
The original architect, Benjamin Ferrey, drew up plans for the expansion. They wanted to add a new section on the north side. They also planned to make the south side bigger and extend the front part of the church.
These changes would add space for 400 more people. The cost for this big project was about £1300. The people of Hale were not very wealthy, so they asked for help from others.
The church was significantly extended in 1897. This made it much larger and able to welcome more people.
On April 26, 1950, the church was officially named a Grade II listed building. This protects it as an important historical site.
People Buried at the Church
Many people are buried in the churchyard of St John the Evangelist. Besides Bishop Charles and Jennie Sumner, some other notable people include:
- John Henry Knight (inventor): He built one of Britain's first cars that ran on petrol.
- James Fellowes (cricketer): He was a cricket player for teams like Kent County Cricket Club and Hampshire County Cricket Club.
There are also five Commonwealth War Graves. These are for soldiers who died serving their country. They include:
- Lieutenant Colonel Owen, Lindsay Cunliffe
- Private Hammond, J E
- Driver Moore, William Fenwick
- Rifleman Collyer, Sydney Harry
- Warrant Officer Class II (C.S.M.) Webb, William Leslie
Additionally, 321 people who passed away at the Farnham Workhouse between 1845 and 1872 are buried here.
St John's Today
St John the Evangelist Church is part of the parish of Badshot Lea and Hale. This parish belongs to the Diocese of Guildford. The church follows a specific Christian tradition within the Church of England. It is also known as an Inclusive Church, meaning it welcomes everyone.
See also
