Church of St Anne, 45 Church Road, Bagshot, Surrey

In 1880 it was decided to build a new Parish Church, and the Duke of Connaught who had moved to Bagshot Park that year with his new wife, Princess Louise Margaret of Prussia, gave the land from his own estate. The foundation stone was laid by the Duke in 1883 and the building was consecrated by the Bishop of Winchester on April 25th, 1884. (When the new diocese of Guildford was created in 1927, Parishes in this area were transferred from the diocese of Winchester.) The architect was Mr Alec Cheers. The appearance of the Church is substantially the same today both inside and outside. The Chapel in School Lane had by then been pulled down, but it is thought that material from it was used in the building of the new Church.

LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE OF ST ANNE’S CHURCH, BAGSHOT - The old church of St. Anne, which was of a type possessing little or no architectural beauty - indeed it had long been cruelly dubbed the ugliest church in Surrey "—had fallen into a sad state of disrepair, and considering all the circumstances it was felt that as large a sum would be needed to render it seemly and decent as a place of worship as it would to effect a complete substitution. Accordingly, the esteemed vicar, the Rev. F. A. P. Lory, appealed to his friends to assist him in the laudable work of erecting a new church, and the response given by all classes must have been to him of a most gratifying nature. ….  The designs having been drawn by Mr. Henry A. Cheers, architect, of London and Bagshot, the contract was entrusted to Mr. Joseph Higgs, builder, of Dorset-square, London. The estimated cost of the structure when completed, is about £5000.  The new church will be of the early English style of architecture, and will consist of a nave, transepts, north and south aisles, and chancel, with a tower at the west end surmounted by a spire 120 feet in height. The building will be of brick, with Bath stone dressings on the outside, whilst the interior will be plastered, with an open roof of pitched pine. The seats will be open benches of approved design in stained wood, and accommodation will be afforded for 450 adults; and the site is to be enclosed by a boundary wall with neat iron palisading. Situated on an eminence, on what is known locally as the Mill Hill, it commands an extensive view of rich landscape on all sides, including Bagshot Park, the pretty demesne of the Duke and Duchess of Connaught, and just now when the country side is donning its spring livery the aspect is delightful in the extreme. [The Freemason 14 April 1883 page 186-187]

For building the new Church of St. Anne, Bagshot.
Mr. H. A. Cheers (late Bromilow & Cheers), of West Kirby, Liverpool, architect —
Contractor          J. H. Clarke, Poole (accepted tender £3,990)
Reference           Builder 30 September 1882 page 447 – tenders