The first two images here are very similar views of the parish church, taken some 18 years apart. The
photographers were looking down the nave towards east window and the high altar. Just before the crossing,
on the left, is the pulpit which dates from about 1600 and the organ can be seen between the columns of
the north transept. The third picture is a view of the south aisle from the nave.
There were screens on the high altar, although they are difficult to see. The screen in the 1904 picture above is rectangular
and slightly obscures the east window whereas the one shown on both the other pictures below covered even more of the window.
It is an ornate screen with seven sections: the centre three contain religious paintings, with carved panels on either
side. The outer panels may contain texts but it is impossible to tell from this image. In 1911 a Miss Alice Jane Heath
of Hove bequeathed £1,000 for the erection of a reredos in the parish church so it is likely that it was this screen[1].
There are no screens on the altar today.
Kelly's Directory of 1924[2] records that the east window, which has five lights,
"is stained and there are others, including one erected in 1893 by J. Whately Simmonds esq. in memory of his wife[3],
and another facing west in memory of Robert Edmund Mellersh, who died Feb. 4th 1893, dedicated by his wife, Sarah Ann
Mellersh[4]; there are monuments to the Elyott, Webb and Oglethorpe
families, and one to the Rev. Owen Manning B.D. formerly vicar of this parish who, in conjunction with William Bray
esq, F.S.A, wrote a history of Surrey, published in 1817 [sic, it was published 1804-14] ; he died 9th Sept. 1801[5] ;
there is also a coloured tablet, erected in memory of Frank Bertram Bond, aged 19, 2nd Lieut. R.F.A. killed in the battle
of Piave, Italy, Oct. 24th 1918[6] : there are three memorials to the men who gave
their lives in the Great War, 1914-18, viz.: a stone panel on the outside wall of the south aisle, a cast iron tablet in the interior
of the church and a cross in the churchyard".
The Rev. Owen Manning, B.D., the Surrey historian, had been preferred to the vicarage of Godalming and rectory of Peperharow in
1769"[7]. He was buried, aged 81, at SS. Peter & Paul on 14 Sep 1801.
Judeth Elyott's alabaster memorial is dated 1615; it is within the communion rails and shows a
kneeling figure. The plaque dedicated to Philip Webb, who was M.P. for Haslemere, is dated 1756[8].
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The changes made to the western and eastern arches of the tower by the 1879 restoration
created the magnificent view of the east window. |
Following the major restoration of 1840 the church held 1,804 adults and children[9].
The population at the time was over 5,000, with sittings pre-1840 for only 875, including children. Many inhabitants had been unable to
be accommodated, and there were only 108 free sittings for the adult poor. It was therefore planned to rebuild and extend
the north aisle; to extend the nave westwards; remodel and enlarge the south and west galleries; to build two additional
galleries in the north and south transcripts; and to repew the ground floor[10].
We learn something of what it was like afterwards from the Rev. E. J. Boyce, who took sole charge of the parish shortly after a
restoration and enlargement that had cost £3,700. "Huge galleries were erected around the nave and in both transepts,
by the transformation of the cruciform external appearance into that of a parallelogram, and by a system of pews which
left no passage wider than three feet, those in the chancel being brought to within that distance of the altar itself".
As Boyce also commented, the fine old, well-proportioned parish church had been turned into a meeting house. Little wonder
that the reverend Secretary of the Incorporated Society, who had granted £500, reacted with a look of astonishment
and dismay when he was shown "such barbarism" a few years later. Boyce described how he lifted up his hands
and exclaimed "Is this the work for which we gave so much money?" The exterior was not unscathed as it had been
encased with stucco. Yet somebody had thought it a good idea. Boyce also records in 1869 that the chancel was being restored by
the Ecclesiastical Commissioners[11].
Further work was undertaken by Sir Gilbert Scott in 1879 and a good deal of the earlier work was improved and redone.
In 1876 Scott commented that "The treatment of the interior of the church with the view of making the arrangement
of the fittings convenient for the celebration of the services, requires much consideration, on account of the tower, with
its small arches and bulky piers, cutting off to a great extent the chancel from the western part of the church."
He added that "under the circumstances, I am disposed to recommend the enlargement of the western arch of the tower,
taking due precautions to maintain the strength and abutment afforded by the piers. This plan will allow the singers and
the clergy to be placed in the tower within the site of the bulk of the congregation[12]."
In the event, the western arch was carefully removed and rebuilt; the wall above having been found to be in a dangerous
condition. The Norman eastern arch was raised, with the old stones refixed at a higher level[13].
The galleries were removed so there were less seats, but it was far less crowded.
The organ, from Robson of London, was not replaced immediately. It was repaired and enlarged in 1873; it had formerly stood in the west
gallery but as it returned doubled in size was placed in the north transept[14].
In 1879 it was remodelled, "including a portion of the detestably ugly and unsuitable case"[13].
A new organ, costing £1,400, was installed in 1887. The number of seats had been reduced
to 1,000 by 1891 with half of them being free[8].
The modern church, apart from a few additions, is the
result of Gilbert Scott's work[15].
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| On the right of the nave is the south aisle, the chapel at its eastern end partly hidden by a pillar. |
In July 1925 the esteemed members of Surrey's Archaeological Society met at Guildford station and were driven to Godalming
Church. A paper on the history of the church was read to the assembled group by the local architect Mr. Norris,
who subsequently informed the group that the only duty that remained to them was safeguarding what had been handed
down to them. A wit writing for the local paper observed that "the archaeological soul was in many ways
revolted at the sight of a church worker assiduously erasing the inscription on one of the brasses in her efforts to
polish it"![16]
Lastly, although his memorial at SS. Peter & Paul is of a more recent date than these images we must not overlook
General James Edward Oglethorpe, whose father had bought Westbroke Place before he was born. General Oglethorpe was both a military
commander and a civil administrator in the eighteenth century. He became an M.P.[8] but
is perhaps best known in Godalming as the founder the US state of Georgia. He passed away on 30th June 1785[17].
A modern oval memorial plaque commemorating the 250th anniversary of Oglethorpe's departure for Georgia in 1732 was unveiled
in the church in 1982 and a flag of the US State is displayed alongside the plaque.
Related pages
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References:
[1] "Reading Mercury", 27 May 1911
[2] Kelly's Directory of Surrey, 1924.
[3] One of the Simmonds' memorials is in the angle of the south aisle and chapel. There is more about
the family on SS. Peter & Paul Parish Church and Church House, 1907.
[4] Robert Edmund Mellersh was a banker and solicitor who lived at Deanery House on Church
Street. He and Sarah Ann had a large family.
[5] "Reading Mercury", 21 September 1801.
Owen Manning's will was proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury on 6 October 1801 (PROB 11/1364/49). His widow Catherine
died and was buried at Dorking in 1822.
There is more about Rev. Manning on SS. Peter & Paul Parish Church and Church House, 1907.
[6] Frank Bertram Bond was the son of Bertram William Bond, a Medical Practitioner, and his
wife Elaine Kate. The family lived at The Square, although were on Peperharow Road when Frank was born. He was killed
on first day in action, in the 2nd battle on the Piave, at Maserada, while commanding left section of 31st Bty. 35th
Bde. 7th Div. and is buried at the Giavera British Cemetery, Arcade (from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission).
[7] "Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette", 7 December 1769. Owen Manning's preferment.
The living was then worth 300li. per annum.
[8] Kelly's Directory of Surrey, 1891.
[9] "Post Office Directory of Essex, Herts, Kent ..." (1855), Part 1: Counties & Localities,
pub. Kelly & Co., Old Boswell Court, Temple Bar, London.
[10] "Kentish Mercury", 8 February 1840. Enlargement of Godalming Church.
[11] "Surrey Advertiser", 27 July 1867. Godalming. Church Building in the Parish -
extracts from a paper written by the Rev. E. J. Boyce. The Rev. Edward Jacob Boyce, Vicar of Godalming, was preferred to the Rectory
of Houghton, HAM in 1865.
[12] "ibid.", 7 October 1876. Godalming. Restoration of the Parish Church.
[13] "ibid.", 18 October 1879. Godalming. Reopening of Godalming Church.
[14] "ibid.", 25 January 1873.
[15] "A Guide to the Parish Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul"
(1978) Bott, Alan M.A., F.S.A. © Alan Bott and Parochial Church Council of St. Peter and Paul. Edited and designed
by David Coombs.
[16] "Surrey Mirror", 24 July 1925. Surrey Archaeologists. Excursion
into West Surrey. Godalming, Whitley and Rake Manor visited.
[17] "Chelmsford Chronicle", 22 July 1785. James Oglethorpe died,
aged 102 according to the newspaper, at his home in Essex - Cranham Hall. He was actually born on 22 Dec 1696 and
christened the following day at St Martin-In-The-Fields, so the age given in the obituary was incorrect. He founded
the new colony of Georgia in 1732, taking 6,000 people [this number varies in different reports] from Great Britain
and Ireland, at his own expense, to become the first English and Irish inhabitants. After a time, others emigrated there
from all parts of Europe. By the time he left he had endowed an orphanage and set up an endowed school for the maintenance
and education of poor children.
He was buried at Cranham on 13 Jul 1785.
Another plaque, near Godalming Museum, records the 300th anniversary of his birth.
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