Have you ever wondered about the origins of a church? You know, how these places of worship came to be standing where they are, sometimes in the most unexpected locations? Well, right here in front of you stands a church that was literally built from a barn. You are standing before The Barn Church.
Here’s the story: Imagine a peaceful countryside in Surrey in the 17th century. A grand barn, with its thick timber beams, stands proudly on Stonehall Farm. This wasn’t just any barn; it was likely made from old ship timbers retrieved from battles fought at the time of the Spanish Armada. And it’s these very timbers that were carefully dismantled and transported to Kew, in London.
But why a barn? Well, in the 1920s, the Anglican Diocese of Southwark was looking to build 25 new churches. The owners of Stonehall Farm, Uvedale Lambert and his wife Cecily, offered the barn as a unique and economical solution. They believed a church should be a place where everyone feels welcome, and their barn, with its rich history, seemed the perfect setting.
The move was a remarkable feat. Each beam was carefully numbered and loaded onto lorries to be transported to Kew. The original structure required some adjustments, including a hipped roof to create wider aisles, and brick walls replaced the original weatherboards. But the barn’s stone plinth, the original foundation, remains untouched.
The dedication ceremony was a momentous occasion. Mrs Philip Hoare, a member of the Hoare family who generously contributed to the project, laid the foundation stone. It was consecrated by the Bishop of Woolwich in 1928, and the church was finally dedicated by the Bishop of Southwark in 1929.
The Barn Church stands as a testament to ingenuity and community spirit. This beautifully restored and reimagined historical building still holds the echoes of its past life as a farm barn. It’s a place where the history of the English countryside and the spirit of London come together, reminding us how the ordinary can become extraordinary.