Parish of
Wonersh with Blackheath
St
Martin’s, Blackheath, Surrey
Unless the Lord builds the
house its builders labour in vain.
This
Church of England church has stood at the heart of the village for a little
over 100 years and it seeks to serve and support the community of Blackheath
through prayer and in practical ways.
Services take place each week on Sundays at times displayed on the
notice board, when all are welcome. Our patron saint is St Martin of Tours.
The church was dedicated on 26 July 1893 by Bishop Thorold
of
The original idea was to use the nave of the new church as
a village hall on weekdays, however this was avoided when Mr Henry Prescott
gave the funds to construct the present Village Hall. He also gave the Church the Chancel Screen,
the organ and securities as the endowment for the Curate–in-charge.
A scheme was launched in 1928 uniting Blackheath with
Chilworth, comprising portions of the parishes of Wonersh, Shalford and St
Martha’s into a separate Church District. After a trial period it was decided
to continue the scheme and in 1932 fundraising was started to establish an
Endowment Fund to form a Parish. This
was achieved in 1937 and Consecration by the Bishop of Guildford took place in
September of that year. To see the list
of Curates-in-charge and Vicars, select Vicars.
Ours is a living church and we
welcome your support. We need to
undertake repairs and restoration work to St Martin’s and encourage you to look
at the Blackheath Appeal 2008.
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This beautiful little church was
designed by the Art Nouveau architect Charles
Harrison Townsend and was a prime example of the work of the Arts and Crafts Movement It is said to have been modelled on an
Italian wayside chapel, but it is admirably suited to its surroundings on an
English heath. It is in basilican form
(oblong hall) instead of the traditional cruciform (cross shape). |
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The Arts and Crafts movement
pursued sincerity and simplicity, avoiding lofty and grand design and
employed local materials such as the candleholders and lectern, made from
ironstone from the heath and smelted at the Royal Mint. |
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The
alabaster work lining the chancel walls and sanctuary arch is the work of
Messrs John Daymond and Son of London.
It was for the most part a memorial to Sir William Roberts-Austin who lived in Blackheath, and whose initiative it was to
build a church to serve the growing community. A wall tablet records:- To the Glory of God And in memory of Sir William Roberts Austen KCB,FRS,DCL To whose generous and devoted efforts The erection of this church was largely done His friends completed the decoration in 1904 Born March 3 1843 – Died Nov 22 1902 There is a second wall tablet on the opposite
side:- To the Glory of God and in memory of Henry Warner Prescott Born January 15 1837 Died November 10 1926 For thirty years a humble worshiper in this church I had rather be a door keeper in the house of my God Than to dwell in the tents of ungodliness. Psalm84 Verse 11 The
crucifix window in the pulpit recess of Christ on the
Cross is by F
Hamilton Jackson, and this and the copper pulpit desk are in memory of
John Bell, the inventor of asbestos.
He lived at Lockner and worshipped in this church. |
The Roll of Honour for Blackheath is on the north
wall:-
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1914 –
1918 In
Memoriam
Glory to God in the Highest on Earth Goodwill Toward Men |
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Further details of
those on the Roll of Honour may be found by searching the Commonwealth War Graves
Commission. |
This Roll of Honour is repeated
on a wooden enclosure outside the church, together with names of others
possibly those who also served. The war
dead are also commemorated on the war memorial situated up on the heath. Most of the names are also remembered on the
Roll of Honour at St John the Baptist Wonersh.
The font “In memory of Elizabeth
Oliveria Prescott” was given by Misses L E and O Prescott.
The
striking wall paintings were painted in 1894-95 by Anna Lea
Merritt, an American artist trained in
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Virgin and Child in the manger With |
Christ on the The three disciples asleep at his
feet. |
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The Resurrection, Christ
appearing to Mary Magdalene. Note the large flat block of stone, like a millstone fitted to run in
grooves below and above The preparatory oil painting was “Watchers of the Straight Gate” |
The Raising of the Widow’s Son |
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With the churches of St Martin’s Canterbury and St Martin’s Wonersh |
Angel bearing symbol of the
Eucharist “I will give you a crown of eternal life” |
Shown as an unusually youthful figure. |
The paintings depict a number of
scenes from the Life of Christ. She
describes painting these in her book of memoirs.
These paintings ensure that even
the walls of the church point to the central focus of the Christian faith; to
Jesus Christ the Son of God who died on a cross and rose again for us. As a parish our purpose is to know Christ and
to make him known and this beautiful building serves us well in this mission.