The Story of Christ Church

The Start of Christ Church New Malden

The story of Christ Church really begins with the building of New Malden station in 1846. From that point the population of New Malden grew rapidly and by 1855 the need for a church was clear.

A meeting was held at the Railway Tavern (now the Glasshouse) and the decision taken to raise funds for a church in Poplar Walk (now Poplar Grove). Henry Thomas Dobson was involved in this and an angry exchange with the local MP Henry Drummond, who believed a church to be unnecessary.

Dear Sir,

I have received your letter of the 14th, as I did the former to which you allude. Some speculators having invested their money in endeavouring to build a little town, and finding that no one will live in so wet and flat a place, first tried the attraction of a Gin Shop, and then of a second; still the speculation would not answer; and now they are to try the effect of a Spiritual Gin Shop, the spirituous not being sufficient. There is no more need of a Church than there is a town; it is a piece of religious canting imposture from beginning to end, of which there have been many specimens all over the land, and they ought to be exposed by being described in their true colours.

I am Sir, Your Obedient Servant
Henry Drummond, MP

The funds were nevertheless raised and 'The Temporary Church of St James' opened on Sunday 8th March 1857, with Henry Dobson (pictured below) as one of the first two Churchwardens.

Henry Dobson, one of the first churchwardens at CCNM

At first, clergy from other churches took the services but from Easter 1861 a full time curate, the Revd James Marryat, was appointed. Complaints about Marryat's ministry and an eventual pay off led to him leaving in 1864.

In 1865 the Duke of Cambridge (George, the cousin of Queen Victoria) provided the land for a permament church and a vicarage to be built. It was at that point that the Reverend Charles Stirling (1827-1921) was announced as the first vicar of the forthcoming Christ Church.

The Ten Vicars of Christ Church

There have been ten vicars of Christ Church. Click on the links below to follow the story of Christ Church from their time.

Image	The Reverend Charles Stirling (1865 - 1892)
Image	Canon William Challacombe (1893 - 1920)
Image	The Reverend Alvan Birkett (1921 - 1935)
Image	The Reverend Willoughby Habershon (1935 - 1944)
Image	The Reverend Claude Bartle (1944 - 1958)
Image	Canon Llewellyn Roberts (1958 - 1968)
Image	The Reverend Peter Coombs (1968 - 1975)
Image	Canon John Short (1976 - 1990)
Image	Canon Stewart Downey (1991 - 2006)
Image	The Reverend Stephen Kuhrt (2007 - present)

You can also follow the story of how the church buildings have changed from the building of the original church in 1866 up to the present day.

Or you can read about the people and key events that have played a part in shaping the history of Christ Church.

Since September 2021, our Vicar Stephen Kuhrt has been working on a new illustrated history of Christ Church New Malden, published as a series of volumes. You can find out more about this here. Copies of all the volumes can be obtained through our Contact Us page. Digital copies of the first nine volumes of this new illustrated history of Christ Church New Malden are now available for download below:

Volume 1: Vision and Conflict 1855-1892

Volume 2: Evangelical Piety 1893-1920

Volume 3: Freedom and Friendship 1921-1935

Volume 4: Godly Discipline 1935-1944

Volume 5: Quiet Assurance 1945-1958

Volume 6: The Firm and Loving Hand of God 1958-1968

Volume 7: Powerful Goodness 1968-1975

Volume 8: Gospel Conviction 1976-1990

Volume 9: Passion for the Pagans 1991-2006