St John the Evangelist Church is a Church of England parish church in Hale, Surrey. Consecrated in 1844, the church is now a Grade II listed building.

History The church was designed by the architect Benjamin Ferrey. Unlike Ferrey's other designs, the church is not in his characteristic Gothic Revival style but has a "wild neo-Romanesque"/neo-Norman appearance. The walls are of clunch and sandstone, and there is an unusual four-stage circular tower."

Bishop Charles Sumner consecrated the church on 8 November 1844. He was Bishop of Winchester from 1827 to 1869 and lived at his official residence, Farnham Castle. Also in attendance was his son, George Sumner, and archdeacon Samuel Wilberforce.Hampshire Advertiser 16 November 1844 Charles Sumner and his wife, Jennie, are buried in the churchyard. However very soon the church was too small and an appeal to extend the church stated:

The church was extended significantly in 1897.Surrey Advertiser, p7, 24 February 1897

The church was designated as a Grade II listed building on 26 April 1950.

Buried in the churchyard In addition to Charles and Jennie Sumner, other notable graves include: John Henry Knight (inventor), builder of one of Britain's first petrol-powered motor vehicles.John Henry Knight, National Motor Museum. Retrieved 2019-08-04. James Fellowes (cricketer) played first class cricket for Kent County Cricket Club and Hampshire County Cricket Club.James Fellowes, CricInfo. Retrieved 2019-08-04. Also there are: Five Commonwealth Graves Lieutenant Colonel Owen, Lindsay Cunliffe.Commonwealth War Graves Commission Private Hammond, J E.Commonwealth War Graves Commission Driver Moore, William Fenwick.Commonwealth War Graves Commission Rifleman Collyer, Sydney Harry.Commonwealth War Graves Commission Warrant Officer Class II (C.S.M.) Webb, William Leslie.Commonwealth War Graves Commission 321 people who died in Farnham Workhouse between the years of 1845 and 1872 Burial Records

Present day St John the Evangelist is part of the parish of Badshot Lea and Hale in the Diocese of Guildford.A Church Near You The church stands in the Liberal Catholic tradition of the Church of England. It is listed as an Inclusive Church.Inclusive Church Directory

List of incumbents

1868–1875 George E. Fox 1875–1879 David Rowe 1879–1891 John Powell 1891–1894 Robert Brown 1894–1910 G.E.Hitchcock 1910–1914 Alan M. Watson 1914–1917 H.D. Birley 1917–1923 John du V. Brunton 1923–1926 Bernard Woodard 1926–1930 E. Logan-Hunter 1930–1941 J.L.R Pastfield 1941–1944 R.H.C. Mertens 1944–1956 Arthur E. Jaggs 1956–1967 Jonathan Edwards 1967–1984 Michael H. Sellors, later Dean of St. George's Cathedral, Jerusalem (1997–2002)Obituary 1984–1991 Michael Chapman, later Archdeacon of Northampton (1991–2004) 1992–1999 Humphrey Southern, later Bishop of Repton (2007–2015) and Principal of Ripon College Cuddesdon (2015–present) 2000–2002 P.A.Smith 2003–2010 John J. Page 2011–present Alan and Lesley CrawleyChurches Together in Farnham

See also List of places of worship in Waverley (borough)

References

Works cited

External links The Parish of Badshot Lea and Hale A Church Near You entry