St John the Evangelist, Wotton, Surrey

A small but beautiful country church with Anglo-Saxon foundations, extended and modified over the centuries by the Normans, then in the mid-1600s and finally in the mid-Victorian era. Fortunately, the Victorians did not mess with it too much, so it still retains much of of its old character and charm. Two of the three bells are thought to date from about 1375 and third is a recasting in 1602 of an older bell. It was the church of the Evelyn family, who still farm a large amount of land in the area, and is the burial place of the diarist John Evelyn (1620-1709). He promoted and wrote "Sylva or a Discourse of Forest-Trees and the Propagation of Timber". The Evelyn Chapel has four large mural (wall) memorials which escaped the depredations of Henry VII during the Reformation.

A comprehensive, colour illustrated A5 sized guidebook is available for sale in the church.

Timings

Saturday 19 September:

1000 to 1600

Sunday 20 September:

1000 to 1600

Location & directions

St. John the Evangelist, Church Lane, Guildford Road, Wotton, Surrey, RH5 6QQ

Directions:

The narrow entrance lane is directly opposite the Wotton Hatch pub on the A25, between Westcott and Abinger Hammer. There is some parking at the end of the lane, next to the church.

Contact on day:

Brian Rice

Booking information

Pre-booking requirement:

Pre-booking not required

Accessibility details

There are no toilets on site. There are three steps down to reach the nave but the doors and nave are wide enough for wheelchairs.

Additional information

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