St James' Church Rest Garden

• Garden set around the Church building

Located in Croydon, junction of St James' Road and Dingwall Road

St James' Church was built in 1828 on the extensive Common which was the last area of open land in the centre of Croydon. St James' was the first Anglican Church to be built since the founding of the Parish Church of Croydon, and was consecrated on the 31st January 1829.

The original building consisted of the Nave and Tower only, and was constructed to hold 1200 people. A single bell hung in the Tower, and the turret clock was installed in 1850, the chancel , with vestries on either side, were added in 1880.

In subsequent years the surrounding land was enclosed and developed and no provision was made for recreation. In 1890 an agreement was made with the Corporation to maintain ½ acre of the churchyard "with a view to the enjoyment by the Public"; no games were to be played. However due to the deteriorating condition of the property this agreement was terminated in 1920.

In 1959 the Corporation was again asked to take over responsibility, this time for the whole churchyard under the 1906 Open Spaces Act. A design was prepared for the layout of the area as an ornamental garden which originally was to include a garden for the blind paid for, in part, by the South Norwood and Addiscombe Rotary Club. Work was held up for six years, due to the uncertain future of the church; there was a reduction in the congregation and parishioners due to commerce developing in the area and people moving away.

Plans were finally agreed and the garden was completed by the end of 1966 by which time the estimated cost had risen from £4,000 to £9,000. The gravestones were lifted and laid as a paved area adjacent to the church. Amongst those lifted was one commemorating the Reverend R. C. Fell after whom Fell Road was named. John Morland of Morland Road fame was another regular member of the church.

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Friday, 25 July, 2008

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