Saint George

 Church History No. 2

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History of St. George's Church, Hanworth from 1808 to 2005
St. George's Church is the Mother Church of Hanworth

The present church with the spire and chancel removed is the church completed in 1812 to a design by James Wyatt, a foremost architect of the period. It was probably one of his last commissions, as he was killed as his carriage overturned near Marlborough, Wiltshire, whilst travelling from Bath to London in September 1813. He is buried at Westminster Abbey.

Wyatt owned Hanworth Farm, which he used as his country home. This was situated close to the site of the South West Middlesex Crematorium in Hounslow Road. The farm house was badly gutted by fire in 1806. The rebuilding of the church cost £5000.

There are still fragments of glass from windows fitted between 1812 and 1866. One to Philamon Pownall Bastard, Rector 1818-1846, and another to Thomas Sunkins of Hanworth, who died in July 1863. Algernon Perkins was appointed a churchwarden in 1858. He was the son of Henry Perkins, who purchased Hanworth Park House and estate in 1840. Henry died in 1855, leaving the house and estate to Algernon.

A Vestry Meeting held on 22 January 1864 agreed to the making of certain alterations and additions to the church, to plans produced by Algernon Perkins, who proposed to carry them out at his own expense. This included the addition of the chancel and spire to designs by SS Teulon. This work work would seem to have been carried out during 1865.

Most changes to the church since the 1865 additions have been in the memory of rectors and parishioners. Today one enters the churchyard through the Lych Gate, built in 1882 to the memory of L E C, mother of the Rev John Lyndhurst Winslow's wife. It is said to be a copy of one in Beddington, Surrey. As you walk up the path to the entrance by the south porch, the newer stone of the chancel and spire is seen first, contrasting with the older stone of the nave walls. The south wall contains some medieval limestone slabs. Over each window is a drip stone to give protection from the rain, with a corbel head at each end.

 

 

Castle Way, Hanworth Park, Middlesex, TW13