St George's Church, Esher

About

St George's Church, Esher is a Grade I listed Anglican church in Esher, Surrey, England. Built in the 16th century, it was Esher's parish church for 300 years, though later worshippers included Queen Victoria. However, by the mid-19th century the building was deemed too small for the growing population, and was replaced by Christ Church, built nearby on Esher Green in 1853/4. St George's was not therefore subjected to Victorian ‘improvements’, and its Tudor origins remain evident. It is now cared for by the Churches Conservation Trust.

In 1725-1726, Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne commissioned John Vanbrugh to add a brick extension to the south side of the church. It contains a family chamber pew for Newcastle. Newcastle lived at the nearby country house of Claremont, and therefore worshipped at St George's. Newcastle's brother, Henry Pelham, also worshipped in the church. Newcastle's successors at Claremont are thought to have continued attending the same church for over a century. The group of residents of Claremont included at various points Princess Charlotte Augusta of Wales, her husband Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg, Leopold's niece-by-marriage Princess Victoria, Victoria' youngest son Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany, and Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone. In 1870, Victoria commissioned a sculpted triptych memorial for Charlotte and Leopold. The memorial still stands at the west end of the north aisle.