ST JOHN’S CHURCH, EGHAM
Now the only Evangelical Church in the Guildford Diocese, St John’s Church is on the site of the original mediaeval church. It is a large Georgian church built between 1817 and 1820. Records show that in the 12th century a church established by Chertsey Abbey existed in Egham. The Parish Register begins in 1606. The first prints (below) show the church which was demolished in 1817 and replaced by the present Georgian church, large enough for 1,000 worshippers. It was built for £9,000 with some financial support from King George III. The 15th century wooden entrance porch, now a listed building, became the lychgate to the present church. Magna Carta Baronial shields are displayed in the narthex.
The Reverend Dr. John Monsell, prolific writer of hymns, was Vicar between 1853 and 1870. John Wesley preached there in 1744. Architecturally the church is pronounced “a perfect specimen of its period which ought to be carefully preserved”, (not a view shared by Dr Monsell who wrote “My church is so bad in form and feature that its influence must be ... to unsolemnise”). There are 37 catacombs underneath the building, with space for fourteen coffins in each.
The items on display cover the years between 1799 and 1979, and include the objections over the changes, suggested by Egham District Council, to the churchyard surrounding the church.
1 – 4. Engravings and Postcards showing the Parish Church of St. John the Baptist, Egham, demolished in 1817
5. The Church of St. John the Baptist in the Parish of Egham by Runnemede. n.d.
6. Egham Church [A brief history from 1817 to 1821]
7. The ancient (listed) porch, now the lychgate to the present church
8. A copy of an engraving of the present church dated 1840
9. Brief history of the Parish Church (with photograph) from an Egham Official Guide. n.d.
10-14. 5 postcards of the present church
15. A postcard copy of an engraving of the present church
16. An article from a copy of “Egham, Runnymede”, 1951
17. A rough outline of the family-owned catacombs under St John’s Church. Provided by Douglas P. Milton for Sidney Oliver, 1979
18. A typewritten appeal by Sidney Oliver against a request by Egham Urban District Council for permission to make a gravel path through the churchyard North-East of St John’s Church on the grounds that the “path” would run over or through known graves or vaults. Includes questions asked by Mr Oliver at a public enquiry
Joan Wintour
January 2013