Leckhampstead's Church – 150 Years Young
You can find a list of key contacts at St James Church HERE
The present church was built as a replacement to the original Saxon church of St Edmund dedicated in 1050 AD and demolished in 1860, which stood at Chapel Farm Hill Green. Artefacts from that church were saved and incorporated into the Church, including the 11th century font, the Jacobean pulpit and the altar rails.
The church was the work of the High-Victorian Gothic revivalist architect Samuel Saunders Teulon and was designed midway through his career. The foundation stone was laid on 3rd May 1859 but it took another 18 months before the church was completed. All accounts suggest that it was a difficult contract; not only did Teulon have to work with a surprisingly small budget, but his original builder Mr Taylor of Sunbury went bankrupt during the contract and was succeeded by Messrs Child, Son & Martin of London. The work was finally completed at a cost of £1,745.0s.0d, met largely by the Rev John Robinson who was the Vicar of Chieveley at the time. The church was consecrated on 30th October 1860
