St John the Baptist
Outwood, Surrey
A small rural church, one of the lesser known buildings designed by the architect William Burges and standing in the middle of National Trust farm, common and woodland.
St Mary's church dates from the 13th century but was restored and extended by Gordon M Hills in 1880.
A set of drawings by Hassell from 1825 show a large timber belfry at the west end and in the interior view box pews, a pulpit and no arch to the chancel. In 1880 the west end was reconstructed and the belfry structure considerably reduced in size, and a north aisle, organ chamber, vestry and chancel arch were added to the original nave and chancel. The south porch was moved westwards and a fifteenth century window was re-fixed in the new north aisle.
St Mary’s organ was erected in 1911 by Alfred Palmer, Esq who was a member of Reading's famous Palmer family and spent over fifty years working for Huntley & Palmers, the biscuit manufacturers, chiefly as engineering director. Palmer family owned the nearby West Park Estate.
Members of the famous Bassano family (16th century court musicians) are buried in the churchyard.
A War Memorial stands proudly to commemorate all those who have died in WWI.
St Mary's is an Eco-Church surrounded by a beautiful churchyard that provides shelter for wildlife.