A history of the church
Sunningdale lies in South East Berkshire, to the South of Windsor Great Park and the East of Ascot. The Old Village is to the west of the church consisting of new build and some Victorian properties; there is farmland (Broomfield Farm) to the south of the church behind the properties on Church Road.
Original origins suggest that the Old Village dates from Saxon times, being an outpost of the Saxon chief Sunna in the wilds of Windsor Forest. The village has always relied on local transportation routes for its prosperity; from the London to Silchester Road of Roman times, to the modern A30 on which the newer area of Sunningdale is built today around the station. The Old Village is in a Conservation Area.
The Victorian Church was built on land purchased in 1839 from the exhausted Sunningdale Common gravel pit by Mr John Plant who gave the site to the parish for a church. The Church was consecrated on 22 October 1840, the design being by Robert Ebbles a small plain building with no chancel but galleries for extra seating. Built at a cost of £1,600. The only remains of this church are the foundation stone laid by H.R.H. Princess Augusta on 27 September.
In 1860, Revd W C Raffles Flint added the Chancel and a small Chapel, which is now the Lady Chapel, designed by A G Street. During these extensions the galleries were removed from the Nave. From 1887, the Nave was rebuilt to designs by Mr J Oldrid Scott by Morris Builders, the Spire was completed in 1890 and the Spire was refurbished in 1982. The Font was also included in the works. From 1905: Current Vestry built, as the organ occupied the previous vestry.
The church is Grade II listed and is surrounded by a churchyard, which is now closed. The gates and railings to the south entrance of the churchyard date from 1839 and are listed Grade II. A War memorial is on the Eastern corner of the churchyard at the junction of Church Road and The High Street.
The church is of cruciform plan built of red brick with blue headers, limestone dressings and some flint flush work. The timber framed coped-gabled roofs are high pitched covered with red clay tiles with the exception of the barrel roof to the chancel. The spire is clad with wood shingles.
The interior is red brick banded with black brick, stone dressings. Specifically there is a 4-bay arcade to the north aisle with compound piers of 4 shafts supporting pointed arches, all of limestone. There is a 4-bay arcade of similar design to the south aisle.
The furniture including the bench pews, communion rails, marble font and pulpit appear to date from the various works undertaken in the late 1800’s.
A large marble monumental slab is in the southwest end of the nave, with relief figures in dress uniform, inscribed to Admiral Prince Victor of Hohenlohe GCB d.1891. He was a German Prince who ran away from school in his native land and was sponsored to enter the Royal Navy by Queen Victoria.
One bell presumably installed when the spire was constructed, remains on timber beams in the spire and is only rung for the 8am Communion service each Sunday.
Recent Improvements
Works were completed during August to December 2004 to refurbish the church after fundraising by the Church, which included a 10% proportion of monies given as a gift to a Hospital in Muheza, Tanzania, which the Church has supported over a number of years:
The works consisted of:
1. Refurbishment of the vestry and the existing toilet facility to provide a disabled toilet and access.
2. Installation of a screen to the south nave (matching the north nave) to create a choir vestry.
3. Refurbishment of the Chancel to conserve the existing finishes and replace existing lights in current positions.
4. Install a door in a pre-existing opening between the Vestry and the Lady Chapel.
The Church has also refurbished during 2004, and uses, the Coronation Memorial Institute (1911), now called ‘CMI Building’ opposite the church on Church Road for Church & Community activities during the week and Youth work principally on Sundays.
Original origins suggest that the Old Village dates from Saxon times, being an outpost of the Saxon chief Sunna in the wilds of Windsor Forest. The village has always relied on local transportation routes for its prosperity; from the London to Silchester Road of Roman times, to the modern A30 on which the newer area of Sunningdale is built today around the station. The Old Village is in a Conservation Area.
The Victorian Church was built on land purchased in 1839 from the exhausted Sunningdale Common gravel pit by Mr John Plant who gave the site to the parish for a church. The Church was consecrated on 22 October 1840, the design being by Robert Ebbles a small plain building with no chancel but galleries for extra seating. Built at a cost of £1,600. The only remains of this church are the foundation stone laid by H.R.H. Princess Augusta on 27 September.
In 1860, Revd W C Raffles Flint added the Chancel and a small Chapel, which is now the Lady Chapel, designed by A G Street. During these extensions the galleries were removed from the Nave. From 1887, the Nave was rebuilt to designs by Mr J Oldrid Scott by Morris Builders, the Spire was completed in 1890 and the Spire was refurbished in 1982. The Font was also included in the works. From 1905: Current Vestry built, as the organ occupied the previous vestry.
The church is Grade II listed and is surrounded by a churchyard, which is now closed. The gates and railings to the south entrance of the churchyard date from 1839 and are listed Grade II. A War memorial is on the Eastern corner of the churchyard at the junction of Church Road and The High Street.
The church is of cruciform plan built of red brick with blue headers, limestone dressings and some flint flush work. The timber framed coped-gabled roofs are high pitched covered with red clay tiles with the exception of the barrel roof to the chancel. The spire is clad with wood shingles.
The interior is red brick banded with black brick, stone dressings. Specifically there is a 4-bay arcade to the north aisle with compound piers of 4 shafts supporting pointed arches, all of limestone. There is a 4-bay arcade of similar design to the south aisle.
The furniture including the bench pews, communion rails, marble font and pulpit appear to date from the various works undertaken in the late 1800’s.
A large marble monumental slab is in the southwest end of the nave, with relief figures in dress uniform, inscribed to Admiral Prince Victor of Hohenlohe GCB d.1891. He was a German Prince who ran away from school in his native land and was sponsored to enter the Royal Navy by Queen Victoria.
One bell presumably installed when the spire was constructed, remains on timber beams in the spire and is only rung for the 8am Communion service each Sunday.
Recent Improvements
Works were completed during August to December 2004 to refurbish the church after fundraising by the Church, which included a 10% proportion of monies given as a gift to a Hospital in Muheza, Tanzania, which the Church has supported over a number of years:
The works consisted of:
1. Refurbishment of the vestry and the existing toilet facility to provide a disabled toilet and access.
2. Installation of a screen to the south nave (matching the north nave) to create a choir vestry.
3. Refurbishment of the Chancel to conserve the existing finishes and replace existing lights in current positions.
4. Install a door in a pre-existing opening between the Vestry and the Lady Chapel.
The Church has also refurbished during 2004, and uses, the Coronation Memorial Institute (1911), now called ‘CMI Building’ opposite the church on Church Road for Church & Community activities during the week and Youth work principally on Sundays.
