A magnificent clock towers over the entrance. Its brass plaque proclaims its dedication to King Edward VII. This is St Andrew’s Earlsfield a beautiful church on Garratt Lane. Built in 1890 it stands as a testament to Victorian Gothic architecture. Architect E W Mountford designed this Grade II listed building. Sir John Betjeman himself admired its metalwork and brickwork.
St Andrew’s Earlsfield wasn’t always here. Earlsfield itself was once Garratt Green. This area was farmland. The only settlement was the hamlet of Garratt Green. A large watermill stood there. Garratt Lane the main street remembers a bygone era. The coming of the railways changed everything. A grand house called Earlsfield was demolished for the station. The new station took its name. Earlsfield became the name of the area.
Garratt Green had a unique history. From the mid-eighteenth century to the 1820s it held boisterous elections. These were for a ‘mayor’ to manage common land. Thousands attended these events. They mocked the political system. The Leather Bottle pub still stands on Garratt Lane. Samuel Foote wrote a play The Mayor of Garratt about the 1761 election.
St Andrew’s Earlsfield serves its community. The church garden was transformed in 2010. It is now an accessible space. Volunteers maintain the garden. The clock outside the church is now electrically powered. Its chimes are silent. The clock faces light up at night. St Andrew’s Earlsfield stands as a reminder of Earlsfield’s rich history. It is a place of worship. It’s a vibrant community hub. This church is a significant part of London’s heritage. It connects the past with the present. This is St Andrew’s Earlsfield a place to discover.