Banstead History Research Group ( BHRG ) Churches

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All Saints Church

All Saints Church Banstead

All Saints was depicted on numerous postcards in the early 1900's and this particular picture comes from a postcard sent in 1927.

The land on which All Saints church was built was donated by the Lord of the Manor, Nigel de Mowbray, nearly a 1000 years ago. It was probably built in the 1190s.

A South Chapel was added in 1837 but the original Saxon nave was significantly extended between 1861 and 1898 under the auspices of the Lambert family and Lord Egmont, then Patron of the Living. These 'restorations' under the direction of G E Street, the noted architect responsible for London's Law Courts, included the North and South Aisles, West Tower, and vestry, resulting in the building we see today.

Although many of the memorials are those of the Lambert family being 'particularly attentive to their relations' which included a Lord Mayor of London, there are many more of equal distinction such as the unique and touching 17th century wall-tablet to an infant in his 'swaddling cloaths' complete with ruff!

The Buckle family who provided the church's vicars for over 80 years are memorialized in several windows and the NADFAS Church Recording Project, begun in 2006, has revealed the fine quality of the stained glass windows. Not only is there one by Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co's earliest commissions (1863) employing the talents of Rossetti, Philip Webb and Morris himself, but also an unusual design by Hardman & Co famed for providing the stained glass in the Houses of Parliament. The twenty stained glass windows represent the work of the most famous designers and makers of stained glass in an era when the art was at its zenith: a very rare distinction in a small parish church.

The original churchyard which now includes the Garton World WarI memorial, was enlarged in 1861 and again in 1904.

In 2007, The Banstead History Research Group published The History of All Saints Church Banstead written by Geoffrey Robinson. It is a very well illustrated and researched book of 60 pages. Click here for further details.

Click here to access the All Saints Church website

St Ann's Church (Roman Catholic)
A Catholic Church was started on a site bought in 1930 on the Brighton Road, in a former army hut provided by Father Chrystal of the Epsom Church.
A presbytery was built in 1936 and from 1938 until 1944 the hut was also used for a school.
The Church was built in 1954 and is named after the mother of the Virgin Mary.

The photograph below shows the interior of the church in 2005.

St Ann's Roman Catholic Church Banstead

St Ann's R C Church Banstead

photographed by Mark Stanley.



St Paul's Church (C of E) From 1923 the old Nork estate was the subject of rapid building development and members of the Church of England felt there should be a church in the area. In 1928 formal consent was given for the building of a church and hall on land in Warren Road. St Paul's Church was opened in 1930, initially as a 'daughter' church of All Saints Banstead. The then vicar of All Saints, the Rev, A W Hopkinson drew a sketch which became the basis for the design of the original St Paul's church. The church was slightly damaged in 1944 during WWII. It was not till 1958 that work on a major new extension was started.	© Copyright Roger Miller and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Banstead Baptist Church
(Tin Tabernacle)

Banstead Baptist Chapel

Contact Banstead Baptist Church here.

A Free Baptist Church was started in Banstead about the beginning of the 20th century. The first church was in a rented house called "Kylemore" in Court Road. For some years the church continued with a fairly small congregation.

Later the church moved to a wood-and-corrugated iron building towards the eastern end of the High Street. During the Second World War this was damaged and services had to be held in a room at the back. With renovations, the church was officially reopened in 1948.

By 1950 the membership had dwindled; but by 1959 it had risen to over 50. In 1963 and 1965 new premises were added ; and in 1966 there was a renovation of the whole building. By 1970 the "tin tabernacle" had become too small for the congregation, and in 1971 a new building was erected on the site. An upper storey was added in 1976. Further premises have since been added.

Children at Banstead Tin Tabernacle Banstead Baptist Church

Click here to enlarge photo.

Banstead Tin Tabernacle

Group photo dating from about 1936.

Banstead Methodist Church

Old Methodist Church

The old Methodist church.

No Wesleyan chapel had been created in Banstead by 1930, in spite of the rapid growth of the village. Wesleyans in Nork walked to Burgh Heath, where there was a chapel which during the week was used as a school.

The present Church site in The Drive had been bought in 1926 by the London Mission and Extension Committee of the Wesleyan Church; but in the 1930s services were held at No.28 Green Curve and then at the Hillcrest Tearooms in Eastgate.

In 1934, after the union of the Wesleyan and other Methodist Churches, it was decided to build a Methodist Church. After much fund-raising a stone-laying ceremony was held in September 1934, and the Church was eventually opened on Saturday 9th February 1935 by Lady Stamp.

Over the years the congregation greatly increased. A Church Hall (the Vallins Hall) was added behind the Church. This survives today and was further extended in 1961, however the church had to be demolished due to structural problems.

The new Church in the round style was built in 1971.

At the rear of the church is the headquarters of the Scout Group which is sponsored by the church.

www.bansteadmethodist.org.uk

United Reformed Church
Banstead United Reformed Church - photo by Lewis Wood

Banstead United Reformed Church - photo by Lewis Wood

A handful of Congregationalists decided in the late 1930s to establish a church in Banstead.
In 1940 the first service was held in the Village School. By 1942 the average attendance was 21, and in 1943 a Banstead Congregational Church Council was set up. In 1946 the Fellowship Council had itself constituted as a Congregational Church, and a Covenant Service took place. After this, church meetings took place in various premises.

The need for a church building was increasingly felt, and on the 10th of June 1950 the Foundation Stone of the new church was laid, in Woodmansterne Lane. The church was completed in 1951. In 1957 the new church building was erected. In 1972 the Union of the Congregational and Presbyterian churches took place, and the church became reborn as the United Reformed Church.

A large extension was later added to the side of the original building. Both the original and the extension can be seen in this photograph taken in 2006. The extension is on the right hand side.

Banstead Congregational church (now URC) July 1953

Banstead Congregational Church (now URC) July 1953

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