Our Buildings
All Saints, Crondall
Open 10am – 5pm daily
All Saints, the parish church of Crondall, is of Norman origin and Grade I listed. Over the centuries it has had many additions and modifications, the chief one being the prominent brick bell tower which was built in 1659 to replace the 12th century tower which had become unstable.
In 2000 a major restoration programme was carried out with a new bell frame, refurbishment of the original 6 bells and the addition of 2 more to celebrate this momentous date. The tower is attached to the main church by two wooden galleries. Stairs lead up to the ringing chamber and then up to the bell and clock chamber, and to the Chancel loft and the external main church roof. The entrance to the vestry is at the bottom of the tower, and from it a door enters the main church by the altar rail.
The main church is entered through the porch at the North door, the door at the West end only normally being used for weddings and major events. The East end of the church is truly beautiful and the chancel is well described in Simon Jenkins book ‘1000 Best Churches’. The pews seat around 220 people and the church has standing room only at Christmas, Easter and on Remembrance Sunday.
The pipe organ is based upon an 1871 Bevington & Sons Chancel Organ with a stop-key Mander console. In 2022 it was given a thorough overhaul and its 850 pipes were removed, cleaned and checked and other repairs carried out. It is now in full working order once more. The church also has a sound system with the facility to play music through an iPod if required.
You can read about the latest addition to the West end of the church, completed in 2024, here.
According to Nikolaus Pevsner it is “a puzzle church and an extremely powerful one”, while it has also been called “one of the finest parish churches in the country” and the “cathedral of North Hampshire”. Of the 19th-century restoration of the building, Simon Jenkins states that “for once the Victorian does not emerge the winner, especially in the chancel”, which latter John Betjeman terms “splendid”.
St Mary's, Ewshot
Open 10am – 5pm daily
St. Mary’s Church was one of the earlier important buildings to appear in Ewshot as the village took shape in the mid-nineteenth century. Known as ‘the little church on the Common’ it was financed by local people, both rich and poor. It is built of stone and flint, in Early English style, to seat a congregation of around one hundred.
The interior is plastered with a timber ceiling, and stained-glass windows were installed in the late 19th and early 20th Century. In 2012 the church had an annexe added to provide kitchen facilities helping make the church of even greater use within the local community.
Church Rooms, Crondall
The church rooms are in Croft Lane just opposite the church and have recently been completely renovated. The facilities consist of the main room (with sink, microwave and kettle point), a smaller room with kitchen, 2 x toilets and the Parish Office.
Both rooms currently house the Croft Café which is open every Friday and Saturday 9am- 12.30pm, serving freshly ground coffee and tea, with fresh home-made cakes. Both cash and cards accepted. Dogs welcome!
To hire the Church Rooms please click here.
If you would like to hire All Saints or St Mary’s churches please contact the Parish Office.