Weybridge United Reformed Church
Weybridge , Surrey
The church was built as a Congregational Church on the initiative of a local resident, Benjamin Scott, Chamberlain of the City of London, in 1864-5.
St James is a beautiful and imposing building, with its gothic appearance complete with sandstone dressings and occupies a prominent position at the heart of Weybridge Town Centre. The LED floodlit spire, 150 feet high, is a local landmark.
The church building is fully accessible with automatic doors in through the north door (Church Street/churchyard/shops side) and a ramp up to the south door (Parish Centre/ Churchfields Car Park side).
The interior of the church is particularly fine with many outstanding features including some beautiful stained glass. Two major features of the church include an organ built by Peter Collins in 1983, and a peal of eight bells, which were re-hung in 1989. There is a central font, near to the underneath of the Tower.
John Loughborough Pearson designed St James in four major phases, between 1848 and 1889, and encompasses the full range of the architect’s stylistic development from austere Early English inspiration to a richly ornate language. An additional south aisle was added by Pearson in 1864 (now known as All Souls Chapel). The building comprises nave, chancel, north and south aisles and the later south outer aisle. The internal layout was designed for high church liturgy, with richly decorated chancel and collegiate style choir stalls. About half of the original pine Victorian pews have been retained.