St Mary's Church, Ewell

St Mary's Church in Ewell (the Church of St Mary the Virgin) is the civic church of the borough of Epsom and Ewell in Surrey, South East England. It is an Anglican parish church that combines a Victorian building with the remains of a much older predecessor, so a single visit shows several centuries of local history.

What is St Mary's Church in Ewell?

The church serves as the civic church of the borough, which means it is the place associated with local ceremonial occasions. It belongs to the Church of England and remains an active place of worship with its own music and bell ringing tradition. The coordinates place it in the heart of Ewell, a village area that is now part of the Epsom urban area.

Why are there two churches on the site?

The present church was rebuilt in 1847-1848. The architect was Henry Clutton, who worked from Whitehall in London. Sir George Glyn, a local landowner, gave the land and £500 towards the cost of the new building. Historic England lists the church at Grade II; the listing was made on 22 March 1974 and amended on 27 February 2019.

The older parish church stood a short distance away. Today only its tower survives. It dates from the fifteenth century and was heightened later with a brick parapet. The tower is a Scheduled Monument, a higher level of protection than listing, and it has been maintained thanks to the efforts of the Ewell Tower Preservation Trust.

What can you see inside and around the church?

Historic England notes that the Victorian church kept a number of fixtures from the old church, dating from the fifteenth to the eighteenth century. This is one of the most interesting aspects of the building: the nineteenth-century walls hold furnishings that were already old when the church was rebuilt.

A fire in 1973 mainly affected the north aisle, and that part of the church had to be rebuilt afterwards. The church grounds also include a lych gate, the traditional covered entrance to a churchyard, which has its own separate Grade II listing.

How to plan a visit

• Combine both sites. See the working Victorian church and the medieval tower in one walk; they are close to each other.
• Look for the contrast. Compare the fifteenth-century tower with its later brick parapet against the nineteenth-century church.
• Check opening times. As an active parish church it may be closed during services or between events, so confirm access with the parish before travelling.
• Bell ringing and music. The parish has an established bell ringing group and music activities, which may be of interest if you are visiting for the church's living traditions.

Frequently asked questions

Is St Mary's Church in Ewell old? The building you enter dates from 1847-1848, but the tower of the earlier church is from the fifteenth century, and some fixtures inside are from the fifteenth to eighteenth century.

Who designed the current church? Henry Clutton, an architect working in Whitehall, London. Sir George Glyn supported the project with land and £500.

Is the church protected? Yes. The church and its lych gate are Grade II listed, and the old tower is a Scheduled Monument.

Where is it? In Ewell, in the borough of Epsom and Ewell, Surrey, South East England.

Is it still used for worship? Yes, it is an Anglican parish church and the civic church of the borough.