Dorking URC
Dorking, Surrey
Dorking URC was founded in 1662 by two clergymen who had been ejected from the Church of England because they refused to subscribe to the Act of Uniformity.
At the time he lived at Redlands, South Holmwood, and between 1873 and 1877 was Parish Churchwarden at St Mary Magdalene. He died in 1884 and is buried in South Holmwood churchyard.
Building went ahead during the latter half of 1874, consecration was performed by the Bishop of Winchester on Easter Day, March 30th 1875.
The exterior may be briefly described. St John’s is built of flint on the Early English Style, with a tower topped by a spire.
The interior is equally straightforward. The nave (with pews able to seat about 110 people) has a single aisle, leading to the chancel containing choir stalls and the organ. The sanctuary is small, but in proportion to the size of the other parts of the church. On the south side of the chancel, behind the organ is the vestry, which was restored and enlarged in 1901.
The west windows are worth studying. The stained glass (1891) is by CE Kempe and depicts the four Fathers of the Western Church and just below are small symbols of the four evangelists. The three evocative stained glass windows on the north side of the chancel recalls the statements ‘I stand at the door and knock … I am the light of the world… I am the good shepherd …’
The east window contains the original glass of 1874. The stained glass work was executed by Messrs Powell of White Friars. The main panels, left to right, depict: The Annunciation (Gabriel and Mary); Nativity; Crucifixion; Resurrection; Jesus meeting two friends on the road to Emmaus. The upper panels left, John and Mary at the foot of the cross, right John, to whom the Church is dedicated, the elderly Evangelist at work, accompanied by his symbol, the eagle at the top in the centre, Jesus is represented as the sacrificial Lamb. Beside the pulpit is the Legge Memorial pew which commemorates Hugo Molesworth Legge who was killed in the First World War. The next of kin of casualties were sent a bronze plaque from the King and this has been incorporated in the pew top.
