St Andrew's Church

There was a church on the same site as the present St Andrew’s some five hundred years before the present building was begun in the eleventh century.

It is a late Norman/Early English Church, though there are later additions.  The most recent was in 1865 when the tower acquired its perpendicular top and the famous chimes. 

The line passing just above the clock face shows clearly where the tower did end.   Before this the tower has been topped by a small cupola surmounted by a weather vane, perhaps to provide shelter for a watchman in less peaceful  times. 

Thus 1865 heightening was largely due to the efforts of J.S Utterton.   Previously the Rector, by then he had become Archdeacon of Surrey and lived in Castle Street, at Guildford House, noted for its splendid Regency facade.  

Enter the Church via the porch on the north side.   Right outside the entrance is the tomb of that ‘articulate peasant’ William Cobbett.  

Inside, the Church is full of local associations.  There is a plaque  to Augustus Toplady, who wrote the hymn ‘Rock of Ages’.  He was born in West Street, and baptised in 1740. 

To the left of the chancel is St George’s Chapel, where you will see above a doorway a tablet depicting Andrew Windsor kneeling in prayer.  He was the benefactor who built the almshouses in Castle Street in 1619.

The decorative oak screen at the entrance to the Chapel was carved in the late fourteenth century.  The Lady Chapel, on the right of the chancel, contains several early tablets and plaques.  One is to Henry Vernon, who died in 1656, and it is his house that King Charles I stayed overnight in on his journey back for trial and execution in London.  

Towards the back of the church the ‘Vinegar Bible’ is displayed.  This was presented to Farnham in 1739 by Arthur Onslow, speaker of the House of Commons from 1727 to 1761. 

On the southern side of the Church there is an avenue of trees planted in 1739 which leads to the old Vicarage.  Until recently this remained Church property though it may be centuries since a vicar lived there.  It is now a private dwelling.  Parts of it were built in the 14th century, with further additions in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. 

In the southwest corner of the Churchyard a path leads down to Bishop’s Meadow.  The few minutes’ effort to walk there will be amply rewarded.  Fifteen hundred years ago the ferns in these water meadows gave Farnham its name. For more information on the church, visit their website.

Farnham has a large number of churches, for a full listing see the Religion page in the Community Section. 

Every week the Farnham Herald publishes a full listing of all the churches with their service times.