ABOUT
The Friends of All Saints Grayswood is a registered charity that exists to raise funds for the repair, maintenance and improvement of the structure and fabric of the church, which is the centrepiece and a vital part of life in the beautiful village of Grayswood, Surrey.
Our aim is to involve the residents of Grayswood and the wider community in the care of this building and its surrounding churchyard.
Looking after a Grade II listed building is costly and in addition to on-going repairs, other improvements are required to maintain the church for worship and for the community.
Fund raising is, of course, vital, but in many ways community involvement is a key aim. We put a great deal of effort into our fundraising and try to make our events attractive to the whole village community. For our church community, the church is central to village life but we also recognise that those who do not worship value All Saints and are more than willing to support it.
That support is invaluable to our charity. We have so many people who give freely of their time and expertise. So many willing to pitch in and roll up their sleeves when there are events to set up, cakes to make, table decorations to create, gardens to be opened. And there are so many people who faithfully attend our events, bringing friends and family to join in the fun.
CHURCH HISTORY
All Saints Church was built from local Bargate stone in 1901, on land donated by Lord Derby, when the parish of Grayswood was created out of part of the parishes of Witley, Haslemere, Chiddingfold and Thursley. It was designed by local resident Swedish naval architect Axel Haig, who turned from designing ships to church buildings and whose Viking memorial stone is on his grave at the front of the church. The church’s special importance is reflected in its Grade II listing.
The wood-shingled tower is typical of Swedish Gothic design and the pitch pine roof over the nave is built to echo an upturned ship’s hull, which makes for excellent acoustics.
Many of the carvings in wood and stone are by Haig himself. The carving of the reredos is probably his work, and the beautifully carved and painted scene of the Adoration of the Magi (in the sanctuary) is also by him.
Some stained-glass windows are worth special mention. In the west wall is one by Charles Kempe, whose wheatsheaf trademark can be seen bottom left. The east window depicts the Ascension and together with the murals of David and Moses on either side, is the work of the Swedish artist, Carl Almquist. In the north transept, another original by Almquist depicts the Resurrection.
All Saints has played an important role in community life since the end of the Victorian era and is a much loved part of the fabric of Grayswood village.
TRUSTEES & PATRONS
TRUSTEES
Chairwoman - Emma Stopford
Secretary - Trish Bell
Treasurer - Matthew Cave
Membership Secretary - Pauline Lamb
Trustees - John Jeffrey, Allen Chubb
ex-officio
Reverend Fiona Gwynn
Nicola Miller
PATRONS
Emma Stopford
John Conti-Ramsden
Rev. Fiona Gwyn
Peter Clement
Mr & Mrs Vincen Van Walt
Mrs Sarah Page
The Oonagh Jeffrey Trust
Grayswood Cars
Couchman Hanson Solicitors