Weight: 65 lbs Diameter: 13.25" Bell 1 of 10
Founded by Mears & Stainbank 1955
Dove Bell ID: 54849 Tower ID: 20590 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
St John the Baptist: Hampton Wick
Diocese of London
Church, 623209
https://stjohnshamptonwick.org/Overview
Grid reference: TQ 174 694
St John's is located on the north side of Church Grove, immediately to the east of Bushey Park. The church was built in a rather inventive and idiosyncratic late Gothic style, although the “Commissioners” idiom is evident. A great deal of the church of 1830 remains, the nave including the roof, the galleries, the vestibule, stair-halls and the belcote.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
The church consists of a short chancel, a nave with a gallery on three sides and vestries on the south. At the west is a vestibule flanked by stair-halls.
Dimensions:
Chancel 3m (10ft) x 5.75m (18ft), nave 20m (70ft) x 13m (45ft).
Footprint of Church buildings: 440 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
Evidence of nearby Roman occupation was found when a large amount of pottery was discovered in Lower Teddington Road in 1992. Hampton Wick owes its foundation to its strategic position opposite Kingston, where there has been a bridge since at least the early 13th century and probably a ford before then. The building of Hampton Court Palace in the 16th century nearby encouraged the growth of inns and shops serving the palace.
Originally part of Hampton, in 1831 the church of St John the Baptist was built and Hampton Wick became a separate parish. By 1861 the population was around 2000. The church was erected in 1829-31 by the Commissioners at an expense of £4,337, to the design of Edward Lapidge, a local architect. His father was an assistant to Lancelot Brown and then held the post of Chief Gardener at Hampton Court.
A great deal of the church of 1830 remains, the nave including the roof, the galleries, the vestibule, stair-halls and the belcote. The west window was moved from the east wall of the church when the chancel was built in 1887. There were restorations in the 1880s, the choir vestry on the south was added in 1898 and the vestry on the north side of the chancel in 1911, when the present pews were also introduced. There were repairs and modernisation in the 1930s and 1950s.
Exterior Description
The church was built in a rather inventive and idiosyncratic late Gothic style, although the “Commissioners” idiom is evident. The lancet windows employed throughout have wide, rather exaggerated cusps, the roof trusses and vault have drop-like corbels and the west front and the galleries are embellished with large-scale cresting employed as a frieze.
The belcote with saw-tooth crown and pinnacle and the tall octagonal turrets, all originally with domed caps, give some vertical emphasis. There are parapets all round, and buttresses are of two tall weathered stages. The gabled west elevation of the nave stands forward and is framed by turret-like rectangular buttresses, and is flanked by lower lean-to stair housings, slightly set back and with diagonal buttresses at the corners. The nave windows are tall as they light both above and below the gallery. They have pointed heads and are all of two lights with the characteristic cusps of 1830 and tracery of a quatrefoil between mouchettes.
The chancel is very short because of the proximity of the boundary on that side. The east window is of three lights with a rose in the tracery, there are 2-lights to the side walls as described above.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
Unknown
Chancel east window, The Ascension. In memory of F J Champion de Crespigny.
Stained Glass
Unknown
South aisle. The Baptism of Christ and Christ teaching the multitude.
Stained Glass
Unknown
West window. The Dove and Lamb in a coloured setting.
Building Materials
Brick
Unknown
External facings of the walls. Laid in Flemish bond.
Limestone
Unknown
Dressings
Slate
Unknown
Grey slate roof tiles
Interior
Interior Description
The chancel floor is three steps higher than that of the nave and extends well forward of the chancel arch. The chancel arch has two continuous chamfered orders and a shallow pointed head. The nave is of five bays and has a gallery on three sides that now stops short of the eastern bay. The last roof truss has also been removed but the corbels remain. The gallery is supported on cast iron columns with four attached shafts and roll and hollow moulded caps. The front is rather plain except for a band of crenellated ornament.
At the west are two enclosures with open wooden screens in Gothic style, that on the north houses the font and dates from 1916, the other was made in 1960 and is used as a children’s corner; it is partly glazed with inset stained glass panels depicting saints, presumably brought from somewhere else.
The west door of the nave is set in a pointed arch with a continuous deep chamfer, and beyond this is a shallow vestibule with a quadripartite ribbed vault on rounded corbels. Each side is a narrow compartment with a stone stair leading to the gallery and a narrow single light window with pointed head. The pews of 1912 are made of pine with a dark finish. The bench ends are moulded but very square and panels are made of vertical boarding. Floors are of red and black quarry tiles, with encaustic tiles in the sanctuary and baptistery.
The roofs are both of shallow pitch. The chancel has a coffered ceiling and a single moulded truss with hammer beam wall brackets. The trusses of the nave roof have moulded tie beams and arch braces with cusped roundels and mouchette in the spandrels. Each carry a series of posts that support the principle rafters and are divided into three by heavier moulded posts with pendants, which frame four centred arches above and stop the braces below. A moulded ridge piece is the only longitudinal member.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
Unknown
High altar, oak with three plain panels at the front. At chancel steps, oak, open frame in three bays. Chapel in north aisle, plain pine table.
Reredos
1900
Of stone. Decorated with mosaic. The upper part consists of an arcade of three blind arches separated by miniature gabled buttresses, all in 13th century style. The backs of the arches are inlaid with mosaic and carry the sacred monograms IHS and XPC. The base has painted floral decoration.
Pulpit
1920
Of stone, in memorial to those who died in the First World War. It is octagonal and has open panels containing decorative iron grills. The stair has solid stone balustrades. There is a plaque on the wall behind with the names of those who fell.
Lectern
Late 19th Century
Brass eagle with outspread wings standing on a bal supported by a circular stem with annular rings and bell moulded base. Oak, tall desk in Gothic style.
Font (object)
19th Century
Stone and marble. Bowl is octagonal with straight sides decorated with quatrefoils. The stem is circular and has marble shafts with foliate caps and roll and hollow moulded bases. The plinth is octagonal.
Font (component)
Unknown
Octagonal cover. Conical and made of oak.
Organ (object)
Rebuilt 1972
Two-manual pipe organ by Bishop and Son. Rebuilt by Matthew Copley.
Plaque (object)
20th Century
Bronze plaque in carved wooden frame. In memory of William Wheeler Archer (Vicar 1887-1910). Located in the chancel.
Cross
20th Century
Brass cross in memory of David Harrison (died 1920). Located in the nave.
Plaque (object)
Unknown
Brass plaque in memory of Walter Fry. Nave east wall.
Plaque (object)
20th Century
Bronze plaque with carved wooden frame. Revd Robert William Ronayne (Vicar 1921-1931). Nave east wall.
Plaque (object)
20th Century
Brass plaque on wooden ground. In memory of Rosabelle Mary Champion de Crespigny, died 1943. Nave east wall.
Plaque (object)
20th Century
Shield shaped metal plaque in memory of Susan Austin, died 1935. Nave north wall.
Plaque (object)
20th Century
Brass plaque in memory of Edward John Chapman, died 1904. Nave south side.
Plaque (object)
Unknown
Brass plaque in memory of Mary Anne Tompson, died 1899. Nave south side.
Plaque (object)
20th Century
Brass plaque in memory of Malcolm Lugard Craigie. Nave south side.
Plaque (object)
20th Century
Plain large brass plaque in memory of Marjorie Kearns, died 1996. Chancel south wall.
Bells
Weight: 53 lbs Diameter: 13.5" Bell 2 of 10
Founded by Mears & Stainbank 1956
Dove Bell ID: 54850 Tower ID: 20590 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Weight: 82 lbs Diameter: 14.25" Bell 3 of 10
Founded by Mears & Stainbank 1955
Dove Bell ID: 54851 Tower ID: 20590 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Weight: 86 lbs Diameter: 14.5" Bell 4 of 10
Founded by Mears & Stainbank 1956
Dove Bell ID: 54852 Tower ID: 20590 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Weight: 117 lbs Diameter: 16" Bell 5 of 10
Founded by Mears & Stainbank 1956
Dove Bell ID: 54853 Tower ID: 20590 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Weight: 99 lbs Diameter: 15.75" Bell 6 of 10
Founded by Mears & Stainbank 1955
Dove Bell ID: 54854 Tower ID: 20590 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Weight: 125 lbs Diameter: 17.25" Bell 7 of 10
Founded by Mears & Stainbank 1955
Dove Bell ID: 54855 Tower ID: 20590 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Weight: 156 lbs Diameter: 18" Bell 8 of 10
Founded by Mears & Stainbank 1956
Dove Bell ID: 54856 Tower ID: 20590 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Weight: 219 lbs Diameter: 20" Bell 9 of 10
Founded by Mears & Stainbank 1956
Dove Bell ID: 54857 Tower ID: 20590 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Weight: 276 lbs Diameter: 22" Bell 10 of 10
Founded by Mears & Stainbank 1956
Dove Bell ID: 54858 Tower ID: 20590 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Churchyard
Grid reference: TQ 174 694
Burial and War Grave Information
It is unknown whether the building is consecrated.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has war graves.
National Heritage record for England designations
There are no records of National Heritage assets within the curtilage of this site.
Environment
Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
There are no records of Ancient, Veteran or Notable Trees within the curtilage of this site.
Renewables
| Renewable | Installed |
|---|---|
| Solar PV Panels | No |
| Solar Thermal Panels | No |
| Biomass | No |
| Wind Turbine | No |
| Air Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ev Charging | No |
Species summary
There are no records of species within the curtilage of this site.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
'Seek advice' Species
More information on species and action to be taken upon discovery.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
Further information
Sources
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