The History of the Building
A Brief History
It is likely that people have worshipped on this site since the seventh century. Originally a wooden church would have stood where the Nave now stands. The stone and flint church mentioned in the Domesday Book comprised the Nave of the church you see today with its two Saxon windows visible high on the north side. South and North Aisles were built in the twelfth century and the stone tower was started then. The large Chancel was built in 1341 and a South Porch in 1380 with a priest’s room above it. The Slyfield Chapel was built in the mid fifteenth century and then joined to the South Porch. The North Aisle was rebuilt with three arcades in 1844 and the church reordered with the Sacristy and Sexton’s shed added in 1885. The small South Porch was added in 1913, the Choir Vestry in 1923 and the Church Room in 1979 forming the structure you see today. Much internal reordering has taken place and continues to meet changing ways in which the building is used1, 2.
St Nicolas church painted by Petrie, around 1805
There are many fine stained glass windows and memorials in the church and it has associations with a number of famous people1, 3. Reviewing the list of incumbents we see such names as Samuel L’Isle (afterwards Bishop of St Asaph and briefly of Norwich), Samuel Cooke and Gerrard Andrewes DD also Dean of Canterbury. Samuel Cooke, who married Cassandra Leigh, was godfather to Jane Austen. Jane stayed with them in Bookham on a number of occasions and set several of her books based on places such as Bookham, Box Hill, Dorking and West Humble. Cassandra Cooke took great pleasure in the presence in the village of Fanny Burney who lived nearby
The Chancel has a fine dedication tablet on the east wall south of the altar; it is one of the best examples of C14 lettering on stone in England. The Slyfields have a number of brasses dating from 1433 in the church. The Shiers, later owners of Slyfield House, are commemorated by both memorials and brasses. A number of owners of Polesden are buried in the church and churchyard including Col. Thomas Moore and his nephew William, Admiral Geary and Ronald Greville – husband of Margaret Greville. The descendants of Sir Charles Howard, Baron of Effingham, who commanded the English Fleet against the Spanish Armada, are well represented with memorials and a stained glass window. The east window of the Chancel contains six panels of fine C15 Flemish glass, installed in 1954 to replace the window damaged in World War II. An unusual willow tree memorial in the Chancel commemorates the Andrewes/Heberden family. William Heberden was Vicar then Rector for many years; his father was physician to King George III.
St Nicolas church painted by Poole
References
1. St Nicolas Church, Great Bookham, Illustrated Guide
2. A History of At Nicolas Church, Great Bookham by William Whitman
3. 1800 Great Bookham at the Time of Jane Austen, Fanny Burney and R. B. Sheridan
Our grateful thanks to John Adie & Bill Whitman for their work in producing this history
Building Timeline
Below is a timeline of changes made to the church building over the course of its history. We are very grateful to John Adie for compiling this information.
DATE
666
675
After 675
Between 1042 & 1080
1088
c1140
c1170-1190
1180
1200
1300 - 1400
1341
1380
c1440
1535
c1547
1640-1660
c1700 - 1800
1844
1846-8
c1850
1859
1885
1897
1901
1913
1921
1923
1936
1951
1954-5
1979
1983
1996
2012
2013
ACTION (internal work inset)
Chertsey Abbey founded
20 houses in Bookham given to Chertsey Abbey
Churchyard set aside at cross-roads
Wooden church built , 2 feet higher on south side
Stone and flint church built with nave and apse; small narrow high windows
Church at Great Bookham recorded in Domesday Book
South wall removed, narrow south aisle, heavy arcade pillars and round (Roman) arches
Work starts on thick tower walls
North wall pierced to make transitional arches, narrow north aisle. Old windows plastered over.
Tower cracks at north east corner.
North aisle shortened - two eastern arcades filled in
Wooden tower and shingle covered spire built. Four bells installed
Large Chancel built by John de Rutherwycke
South porch built with room over
Slyfield Chapel built, then joined to south porch
Buttresses on tower
Rood-loft in Chancel arch
Rood-loft removed and made into pews
Arch inserted between Chancel and Slyfield Chapel
Gable built into the North Aisle
East window of the Slyfield Chapel filled in
Gallery in rear of Nave
North Aisle rebuilt with three arcades by Carpenter
Chancel arch rebuilt
Two bells sold
Gallery and room over South Porch removed
East window in Slyfield Chapel unbricked and glazed
Sexton’s shed built on north side of tower by Butterfield
Priest’s Vestry (Sacristy) built
Sanctuary and Altar steps added. Nave floor levelled,
Box pews removed. Choir stalls and Nave pews added; vault under the Chancel was filled in.
Lychgate built
Victorian screen at Chancel arch
Outer porch added to South Door by Johnston.
Organ in Slyfield Chapel
War memorial to honour Bookham men killed in WW1
Choir Vestry added
Organ pipes moved to North Aisle
Victorian screen moved from Chancel to Tower arch
East window in Chancel
Church Room built (Nye, Saunders and Partners)
Upper book rests on choir stalls added
Pastoral Centre built (John Deal Practice)
AV screens and new (more efficient) lighting installed
Pews removed from the North Aisle
West Door made main entrance with glass inner door and glass screen installed between Tower and Nave
Reason for change
Erkenwald, first Abbot
No Church
Probably on site of present church
In Lordship of Abbot of Chertsey
Churches needed aisles
To build a tall tower
Processions, stations of the cross
Foundations would not support a stone tower
Dedication stone
Space for non-worship activities, including weddings
Chapel for Slyfield burials
Support
Separate laity from Mass
Reformation
Reformation
To light the pulpit
Reformation
For musicians
To provide more space
Narrower and pointed
No longer in use
In memory of Lord Raglan
Storage and access to tower
Change in worship style
To commemorate the 60th year of Queen Victoria’s reign
Marks Queen Victoria’s death
In memory of Jane Mary Bird
World War I & subsequent wars
Cleared South Chapel for worship
Change in worship style
Replace war damage
For junior church and meetings
For meetings, incl. junior church
For audio visual presentations
Flexible area for fellowship
Improved welcome into church