The Trust (which is an all volunteer organisation) was set up in 1997 to stimulate interest in Surrey churches (of all Christian denominations) and to make grants for their repair and conservation.

The main source of income is the annual sponsored Ride & Stride. Gifts from individuals (including GiftAid and legacies), corporate bodies, and other charitable trusts are also welcome.

The income is distributed via grants to Surrey churches for repairs. Applications are considered at the Trust meetings in April and September each year against the criteria outlined in the Grant Application Form.

Come and find out what our members receive.

You can make a donation in person or on line.

The Trustees meet at the end of March and September every year to consider grant applications.

Raise money for church restoration and repair. 

LATEST NEWS

Ride your bike or walk to raise funds for Surrey’s churches:
RIDE & STRIDE on Saturday 9 September 2023 (start and finish times as you like)

IMPORTANT NOTICE – HEAT WARNING 06.09.23

In view of the forecast heatwave, Riders and Striders are encouraged to choose an alternative convenient day to complete the challenge, rather than going out on Saturday 9th September.

Have a great day out cycling or walking and discover Surrey’s heritage.

The Surrey Churches Preservation Trust is run by volunteers and uses all money raised from Ride & Stride to help repair and conserve Surrey’s Christian churches: half of the money you raise goes to your chosen church and the rest goes to other places of worship across Surrey via conservation grants. We have granted over £500,000 in 20 years.

Download route maps and sponsorship forms here

Enjoy yourself and thank you!

 

SURREY CHURCHES PRESERVATION TRUST SCPT Church Tour
Saturday 30 September 2023…. please join us!


10.30am
Coffee at St John’s church, Church Lane, BISLEY GU24 9DX  (in fields about half a mile East of Bisley village) Park outside gates to the church, and walk 200 yds to the church along a gravel path.

 

10.50am Tour of the church. The church is 13C with Victorian additions. Set in open country beside a gigantic yew.It has a fine timber porch, and a shingled spire supported by massive oak timbers (visible inside).The simple interior contains a small Jacobean pulpit and a small medieval font. A sketch map will be available to guide to next church, 15 mins 6 miles South.

 

12.15pm – 1.30pm lunch at St Edward Brotherhood, a Greek Orthodox Monastery Cemetery Pales GU24 OBL (on St Cyprians Avenue inside Brookwood Cemetery) Park in designated area between the church and the monastic residence It is suggested that all participants bring their own picnic lunch as the huge cemetery (funded 1854 to take a trainload of bodies every day for burial) is a now a beauty spot with fine trees.There are wooden seats beside the parking place. If raining, we can eat inside the refectory.


The Guest master, Father Niphon, will give a brief talk about the church.The monastery, which has received an Surrey Churches Preservation Trust grant and is an SCPT member, is a leading centre of the Greek Orthodox church and guards the relics of the Anglo-Saxon King Edward the Martyr who was murdered in 978.The church is in Arts & Crafts style, 1910. Over the past decade, it has had a new iconostasis and many new icons. Approx 12 miles, 40 minutes to:

 

3.30pm St Bartholomew’s church, Wanborough GU3 2JR Turning left off the main road you will encounter the 14C Wanborough Great Barn on the left which has a big car park or carry on 100 yards to park outside the church.The church, which has Saxon origins, is one of the smallest in Surrey.

Reconstructed by the monks of Waverley Abbey, abandoned after the Dissolution of monasteries, and then restored in the 19C by Woodyer, it is now a daughter church of nearby Puttenham.We shall be given a brief talk about the church and its history, then tea will be served in the nearby church hall.

 

Cost: £5 for SCPT members; £10 for non-members. Can be paid on the day
To book a place: please email sjosmond@gmail.com 01252 716772

 

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 CHURCHES
An illustrated talk by Andrew Plumridge, architect and trustee

Saturday 14 October 2023, 2pm
Ruxley Church, Main Hall, Ruxley Lane, Ewell, Epsom, Surrey KT19 0AF
Location map: https://www.ruxley-church.org.uk/findus.htm
Free parking on site

Andrew attributes his love of churches to his time spent pumping air into the old organ at Burpham Church, earning ten bob a time for weddings and nothing on Sundays. “When you’re pumping that lever up and down,” he says, “you have plenty of time to enjoy the architecture and pray for electrification!”

After graduating as an architect he first took on the role of Special Projects Surveyor to the Cathedrals Advisory Commission, working at Wells, Exeter, Lincoln and York, before serving as architect to the dioceses of Oxford, Winchester, Guildford and Salisbury. He served as architect advisor to the Berkshire Churches Trust for 27 years and became a trustee to the Surrey Churches Preservation Trust in 1998.

Although best known as an expert on architectural follies, his talk will take us on a tour of amazing churches from around the world and some of the extraordinary man-made monuments to God.

All funds raised from Andrew’s talk will help Surrey’s church buildings via conservation grants made by the Surrey Churches Preservation Trust, a registered charity run 100% by volunteers. We are looking for volunteers and trustees.

With many thanks to Ruxley Church.

ADVANCE BOOKING RECOMMENDED

£7 for SCPT members, £10 otherwise
£5 per person for groups of four people or more

BOOK HERE NOW: https://thelittleboxoffice.com/scpt/

All enquiries: scptrichardmorris@gmail.com

FIND OUT ABOUT SURREY’S CHURCH ARCHITECTURE FOR FREE

Watch the video of ‘Revising Pevsner: a new look at Surrey’s church architecture’ – a talk by Charles O’Brien given in November 2022 and coinciding with the publication of the revised Surrey Pevsner Architectural Guide.

You can watch the talk free of charge here: https://youtu.be/fZqdpnzi1L8

The Surrey Churches Preservation Trust is run 100% by volunteers and raises funds to help conserve church buildings across Surrey. We are looking for volunteers and new trustees. Please email scptrichardmorris@gmail.com

The photo shows Charles O’Brien, editor of the Surrey Pevsner Architectural Guide (left) and Hamish Donaldson, Chairman of the Surrey Churches Preservation Trust.