Picture this. You are standing before Christ Church West Wimbledon. A beautiful building of Kentish ragstone. It stands proudly on Copse Hill.
Christ Church West Wimbledon has a rich history. It began as a chapel-of-ease. This was in the mid-1850s. Wimbledon was changing. It grew from village to town thanks to the railway. The area needed a church. An appeal raised £6000. The church building cost £3425.
On August 15 1859 Bishop Archibald Tait dedicated the new church. It was smaller than today. It lacked a south transept. The main entrance was on the north side. The nave was shorter. The architect was Samuel S Teulon. He designed many London churches.
The church grew. A south transept was added in 1860. It was also Teulon’s design. The north door was rarely used. The chilly winds from the fields were probably the reason. In 1881 the nave was lengthened. They took down the west wall. They extended the nave by one bay. They rebuilt the west wall with a new porch.
The current bells first rang in 1899. They sit atop 50 narrow steps. They are fixed and cannot be pealed. Their position prevents this. It is said that normal ringing would topple the tower. The bells are rung with clapper lines. A single ringer operates them.
Christ Church West Wimbledon boasts stunning arcading and a hammer beam roof. The arcading arches are in the Decorated Style. The columns are unusual. Each column has a unique design.
In 1977 Miss Truman bequeathed £70000. This funded many improvements. A junk room became the pleasant Truman Room. The organ pipes were moved. The church was redecorated. The stonework was repointed.
The Truman Room holds stained glass windows. The oldest dates to 1866. It faces the Church Hall. The East Window commemorates Eric Bishop. He died in 1907 aged fourteen. The window depicts the Resurrection. A kneeling boy represents Eric.
Other gifts enrich the church. The pulpit dates from 1877. The brass lectern is from 1885. The organ is from 1954. The pipes from the old organ were reused. The Bishop of Southwark dedicated it in 1954.
In 1931 the church acquired adjacent land. The Church Hall opened in 1936. A kitchen was added in 1939. During World War II it served as a canteen. This was for service personnel until 1945. In 2019 the hall was fully refurbished. It’s now a light and airy space. It has a well-equipped kitchen and sprung floor.
Christ Church West Wimbledon is a vibrant part of the community. It continues to evolve. It serves its parishioners. Its story is one of growth and adaptation. A testament to faith and community spirit.