Limpsfield Churches

There are three Anglican churches in Limpsfield - the Parish church of St. Peter off Limpsfield High Street - St. Andrew on Limpsfield Chart and St. Silvan in Staffhurst Wood. There is also a non-Conformist Chapel in Pains Hill.  There are Roman Catholic and United Reform churches in neighbouring Oxted.

St. Peter, Limpsfield

Built: 12th century - extended 19th century. Listed grade 1

The Church is sited within a large graveyard on high ground adjacent to the North side of Limpsfield High Street. It comprises a Nave, Chancel, Chapel, North and South Aisles, a Tower sited adjacent to the Chancel, and a South Porch. There is a mezzanine level within the Tower base which functions as a Choir Vestry and Store. The principal approach is by a broad footpath leading up from the public highway which is paved with ironstone laid on edge.

The building is dominated by the Tower c.1180 which is massive and sited, unusually, adjacent to the South side of the Chancel. Fragments of the twelfth century Nave remain but these are substantially buried and pierced by later work. The Chancel and Chapel ("the Gresham Chapel") and South Aisle were built during the 13th century. The South Porch was added during the 16th century.

The North Aisle was added during the latter half of the 19th century alongside other substantial alterations when the present windows were inserted into the Chancel, Chapel and Nave and the present buttresses were added or rebuilt. More detail about the history of the building may be found in the guide written by Kay Percy (undated) and the references therein. It is included in "Views of Surrey Churches" by C T Cracklow 1979 (first published 1823).

The churchyard is the resting place of a number of famous people associated with the music world. They include the composer, Frederick Delius (who expressed a wish to be buried in an English country churchyard), the conductor Sir Thomas Beecham, the pianist Dr. Eileen Joyce as well as Beatrice Harrison - perhaps most famous for a BBC recording of her cello duet with a Nightingale in nearby woods.

St. Peter's Church has constructed its own website - http://www.stpeters-limpsfield.co.uk

St. Andrew, Limpsfield Chart

Built - 1895 - Architect Sir Reginald Blomfield.

In 1894 it was decided to construct a church in Limpsfield Chart to cater for the circa 250 people who lived there as well as those from Moorhouse and outlying farms. It was consecrated in 1896. It was designed in an Arts and Craft movement style.

St. Silvan, Staffhurst Wood

Built 1898. Architect W.H. Harrison

This church is a small structure picturesquely situated by the road side amongst woods and fields.

It was originally constructed as a Mission Room as a result of a legacy from the Samuel Charlesworth, Rector of Limpsfield from 1857-70, and came into use in 1898. It was consecrated as a church in in 1930. It underwent further change in 1976 when a part of the building was changed into living accomodation for the priest in charge caring for this remote part of the Parish

Chapel, Pains Hill

The chapel stemmed from a group of non-Conformist Christians who met in the area at the beginning of the 19th Century leading to the construction of the first chapel here in 1823, and rebuilt as it is today in 1989.

These notes on the churches were taken from a 1996 quinquennial inspection report prepared by Brian Anderson for the Diocese and from 'Limpsfield Ancient and Modern'.

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