Local historian Howard Davies charts the history of the church buildings in Ashtead.
Painting by Henry Petrie
c1800
Minet Library reference SP77/713GIL15
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Then in about 1120, a chapel of St Mary Leatherhead was consecrated in Ashtead. The parish church which we would recognise as St Giles' with nave, chancel and tower was present by the 16th century. Initially it belonged to the Roman Catholic church, but it became part of the Church of England in 1559 after the Reformation. The interior and the north side of the building have changed from century to century in line with new needs and aspirations.
In 1906, St George's Church was built. This second church replaced an iron church that had stood there since 1882. The idea was to serve the increasing population. Additions were made to St George's Church in 1954 and 1964. The new window of 1961 was based on the window of the Canadian chapel in St Lawrence Jewry, the Guildhall church. Now as the new Millennium arrives, the church is facing a large modernisation programme and its halls and offices are being enlarged.
The Roman Catholic church, St Michael's in Woodfield Lane, was built in 1967 to replace temporary quarters.
Also in Ashtead, the Gospel Mission built an iron church in 1895 on Barnett Wood Lane. This building was replaced by the present building in 1924 and became Ashtead Free Church. In 1995 the church joined the Baptist Union and is now Ashtead Baptist Church.
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See also What was it like in Ashtead? 0-1500 AD, in this issue
See list of other Photographs in St George's Church - St George's east window
See list of other 'Historical' articles from 
See also churches in Ashtead, and their parent organisations
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