St John the Evangelist (old church): Great Stanmore
Diocese of London
Ruin
This church is on the Heritage at Risk Register (verified 2025-11-06)
View more information about this church on the Heritage at Risk website
Overview
Grid reference: TQ 166 921
The “Old Church” of Great Stanmore is located towards the western edge of the old village, at a point where rural Middlesex begins as one travels out of London, but now with a suburban feel. This most attractive, important and well-conserved ruin enjoys a tranquil location a stones throw to the west of its replacement, the “New Church” of 1849, within a very large and well-kept churchyard full of mature trees and monuments of quality. The church was built in 1632 to replace the medieval parish church.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
4-bay nave and chancel in one, north-west projection, west tower.
Dimensions:
Chancel and nave 21m (64 feet) x 11.8m (36 feet).
Description of Archaeology and History
The archaeological potential of the churchyard was emphasised by the discovery of 11th–13th century settlement remains and a moated enclosure adjacent to the southern and western edge of the churchyard during the development of the site of RAF Stanmore in 2000. Until 1938 this was the site of Stanmore Park Mansion House. The present Rectory Lane, which now ends along the south side of the churchyard, represents the line of the medieval road, which may have been the limit of settlement in this direction before the Old Church was built.
The church was built in 1632 to replace the medieval parish church, which was apparently situated further to the south (corner of Old Church Lane and Wolverton Lane) away from the village and thus inconveniently located for the parishioners. The building was commissioned by Sir John Wolstenholme, whose family remained patrons of the church until the second relocation to the adjacent “new” church in 1849.
Brick buttresses were added to the tower in an apparent attempt to combat subsidence. A brick extension was built onto the north-west side of the nave in the 18th century, which after the relocation in 1849 was converted into the mausoleum for the Earl of Aberdeen (Prime Minister 1852-55), who lived at nearby Bentley Priory.
The interior was quickly filled with superb monuments to the Wolstenholme, Abercorn/Aberdeen and other leading families, reflecting the status of Stanmore at this time. Several of the larger monuments were removed to the new church along with some of the furnishings and fittings, including some which were by now making their second move.
The church was earmarked for demolition in 1851 and the roof and much of the south wall was removed, however further destruction was prevented by a group of local people, and it continued in use as a Mausoleum. The building became a picturesque ivy-covered ruin which slowly deteriorated to a point where action was necessary. In 1991 English Heritage and several other organisations stepped in to support the locally based Great Stanmore Old Church Working Group with financial assistance to consolidate the ruin and make it safe for visitors to enjoy.
Exterior Description
Externally the church is of a pleasing and dignified simplicity, a “brick box” now open to the sky, the varying height of the ruined walls softening what would originally have been a very austere vista. The relatively intact west tower looms over the shell of the main body of the church, and is visible as a local landmark from some distance.
The east wall of the church is pierced by a huge and finely detailed Venetian window, an advanced feature for its time and the dominating architectural feature. The gable above this window has collapsed above the stone string-course which runs around the building at just below wall-plate height. There is a row of white sandstone memorial tablets (dated 1745-55) fastened into the wall under the window.
The north wall has survived to its full height, by contrast with the south wall which is so degraded that the number and form of the windows are difficult to ascertain, though there appear to have been at least three rectangular windows. There are four windows in the north wall, all with well-preserved and probably original oak frames. They are alternately wide round-headed recesses within which small round-headed two-lights were inset (they are now blocked), and tall rectangular windows with a transom. The corners of the building have alternating quoins in brick.
The tower is supported by no less than five buttresses, of which the two diagonal buttresses are bonded in and appear to be original. These have two steep weatherings and reach to the string course under the belfry stage. The later buttresses are a stage lower, much thicker and have three shallow weatherings. They are also executed in English bond, and may have been added only a short time later.
The tower itself is of three stages defined by stone drip-courses. The upper belfry stage of the tower has double arch-headed shuttered openings in each face, executed in limestone which has eroded badly. The crenellated parapet above this has partly collapsed. The stair tower protrudes from the north-east corner and very slightly above the parapet. The stage below has single arch-headed windows in each external face, also with limestone dressings. There is also one such window directly above the doorway in the lower stage, but with an oak frame.
Access to the church was via narrow doors at each end of the south wall, the doorway with Banded Surround at the west end is now used for access. The fine eastern doorway has a square head and jambs of Portland stone, again simple but finely detailed under a label without stops.
Building Materials
Brick
17th Century
Locally made soft red brik, laid in English bond through the thickness of the walls.
Bath Stone
Unknown
Dressings
Portland Stone
Unknown
Dressings
Stone
Unknown
Flagged floor
Interior
Interior Description
the tower arch has a depressed head turned in three orders of moulded brick. The inner west wall and gable of the nave is well preserved above this and preserves many structural details. The steep roof-line reaching to the underside of the belfry openings is clear, as well as the line of the wall-plate below which the scar from a lightly domed ceiling can still be seen. There was access from the loft space to the tower through a small square-headed doorway. Centrally placed below this is a rectangular niche in the wall, the purpose of which is unclear. There are also sockets lower down in this wall, probably related to the galleries inserted in the 18th century.
The floor was renewed with stone flags in the restoration of 1991-3, with a single step up demarcating the chancel. Many of the wall-mounted monuments were removed to the “new” church in 1850 or placed within the tower, which has left scars in the walls where they were removed, especially in the chancel walls. Several monuments were thereafter set into the floor, the most prominent being the elaborate Gothic tomb with gabled roof standing roughly centrally in the nave, erected in 1867 by the Hollond family.
Fixtures and fittings
Painting
19th Century
A watercolour by an unknown artist shows a complete Georgian interior with two double rows of box pews either side of a central aisle, and wooden galleries along the north and south walls with further private pews along the walls underneath, set into niches between square pilasters defining the bays. An organ with Baroque case can be seen against the south wall above the galleries, reached by a staircase leading up from the south-east doorway. There was apparently a pedimented Ciborium over the Holy Table, flanked by a Baldacchino and a three-decker pulpit without tester. Stained glass is indicated in the east window. The whereabouts of these fittings are unknown.
Font (object)
1640
Baluster with octagonal marble bowl adorned with the Wolstenholme crest. By Nicholas Stone. Now located in the new church
Churchyard
Grid reference: TQ 166 921
Burial and War Grave Information
It is unknown whether the building is consecrated.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has war graves.
National Heritage record for England designations
There are no records of National Heritage assets within the curtilage of this site.
Environment
Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
There are no records of Ancient, Veteran or Notable Trees within the curtilage of this site.
Renewables
| Renewable | Installed |
|---|---|
| Solar PV Panels | No |
| Solar Thermal Panels | No |
| Biomass | No |
| Wind Turbine | No |
| Air Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ev Charging | No |
Species summary
There are no records of species within the curtilage of this site.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
'Seek advice' Species
More information on species and action to be taken upon discovery.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
Further information
Quinquennial Inspections
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