Our Churches
How to Find Us
All Saints Church
Church Road,
Fleet,
Hampshire GU51 4NB
St Philips & St James
Kings Road,
Fleet,
Hampshire GU51 3AR
All Saints Church
Church Road,
Fleet,
Hampshire GU51 4NB
St Philips & St James
Kings Road,
Fleet,
Hampshire GU51 3AR
Our History
Early History of Fleet
The first clear reference to Fleet came in 1313 when “the great fishery (of) Fleet Ponds” is referred to in the Rolls of Account of Crondall Manor.
The London and South Western Railway opened in 1840. The railway company promoted Fleet Pond for a destination for day excurisons and many people came down from London to skate on the Pond during the winter. The Bradshaw’s Handbook of 1863 says ‘We proceed along an embankment which again reveals some pleasing scenery, but the country between [Farnborough] and Winchfield does not demand any lengthened description. Passing FLEETPOND we soon arrive in Winchfield.’
A memorial to Charles Lefroy, probably by Thomas Nicholls, is now in the north west of the church beside his wife, and with their dogs at their feet.
The Building of All Saints Church
In 1860 Charles Edward Lefroy, Secretary to the Speaker of the House of Commons, commissioned All Saints Church, Fleet – in memory of his wife, Janet Walker, who had died in 1857. The architect was William Burges, among the greatest of the Victorian art-architects.
The ecclesiastical parish of Ewshot and Crookham was split into two in 1862 with the northern section based on the All Saints church, becoming the new parish of Fleet.
Lefroy did not live to see the church completed, so Janet’s father, James Walker, undertook to finance the remainder of the project.
The cost was:
By subscription £724.0s.0d.
C. E. Lefroy, or his estates by money or material £1122.0s.0d.
James Walker (exclusive of an endowment of £75 per annum) £1477.0s.0d.
Total £3323.0s.0d.
A Second Church is built
As Fleet continued to grow a second church, St Philips and St James, was built in 1900 on Kings Road. This became known as the Tin Church – for obvious reasons.
All Saints Church was extended to the west in 1934 by A J Steadman. The Rose Window was retained in the new west wall of the church.
All Saints Church Extended
All Saints Church was extended to the west in 1934 by A J Steadman. The Rose Window was retained in the new west wall of the church.
The west doorway with its sculptured typanum of Christ in Majesty was moved to the south side, and a similar doorway of the Transfiguration (sculptured by Mr G. Parsons) being provided on the north side.
The Diocese of Guildford Formed
The Diocese of Guildford was formed in 1927 from part of the ancient Diocese of Winchester, including the Parish of Fleet. Its cathedral, dedicated to The Holy Spirit and built between 1936 and 1961, is one of only two British Anglican cathedrals to be built on a new site since the C16th Reformation – Liverpool is the other.
All Saints Church Growing
The Lady Chapel at All Saints was added in 1958 by John Purser. This is on the north side of the main church. The extension also included the Choir Vestry.
Ss Philip and James Rebuilt
The new Ss Philip and James Church was built in 1965 to replace the old “Tin Church”, designed by David Nye, the Guildford Diocesan Architect.
All Saints Church 150th Anniversary
In 2012 All Saints Church celebrated the 150th Anniversary of its consecration in April 1862. We had a series of events to celebrate the Grade 2 listed building and the part the ministry of the Church has played in the community of Fleet through the years.
All Saints Church Fire
The fire in June 2015 meant that All Saints Church was out of use for some time but we continued to worship at the site in our parish community centre and at Ss Philip and James during the rebuild. The rebuilt church was opened early in 2023 and we have been holding regular services in this beautifully restored church ever since. The church is open to visitors on Wednesday and Saturday mornings from 10.00 am to 12 noon but please check with the Parish Diary.
The rebuilt All Saints church
Phase 2 will involve the building of a community annexe which will house essential amenities, such as toilets, small kitchen facilities and community spaces. This work will start as soon as the funds have been secured.
For more details on the rebuilding project, please click on this link:- Rebuilding project
Photographs of our rebuilt church can be viewed in Photo Gallery.
Events and other fundraising news can be found on our Fundraising Page.
You can see some of the history, including memories/hopes/dreams expressed straight after the fire in our Fire History.