ST. GEORGE'S CHURCH, Battersea—The following particulars respecting this Church may not be uninteresting. The living is a vicarage of the yearly value of £240 with residence in the gift of Trustees.
The Chapel-of-Ease, as St. George's was called, in Battersea Fields, was built partly by a rate and partly by grant from the Parliamentary Commissioners at a cost of £2,819; it is a neat building in the style of English architecture, by Edward Blore, Esq., Architect. Its erection began September 18, 1827. It was consecrated August 5th, 1828, by Dr. Sumner, Lord Bishop of Winchester, and the first church his Lordship consecrated in his diocese. The Rev. J. G. Weddell was the first clergyman appointed. He held the living twenty-five years: died June, 1852. Within this hallowed sanctuary the venerable, esteemed and truly honoured servant of Christ the Rev. John Garwood, late Secretary of the London City Mission, laboured as curate in charge for nine years previous to Mr. Weddell's death. The Rev. H. B. Poer was appointed in 1852. It was made a District Church in 1853. The churchyard was closed as a burial ground in 1858. The Rev. E. S. Goodhart was appointed in 1859: he remained ten months. The Rev. Burman Cassin was appointed in 1860: he resigned and was instituted at St. Paul's, Bolton, 1872: he preached his last (valedictory) sermon December 31, 1872, at a watch-night service.
The Rev. John Callis was appointed January, 1873. During his time the Church underwent alterations. These were begun August 24, 1874, when the side galleries were removed and the church enlarged by the addition of two aisles at the cost of £1,700. The church will accommodate 800. The church was re-opened by the Right Reverend Harold Browne, Lord Bishop of Winchester, November 21st, 1874, at 4 o'clock p.m. The Rev. John Callis left for South Heigham, Norwich, July, 1875.
The Rev. Thomas Lander, M.A., now holds the living, he was appointed August, 1875. The Rev. T. Kirk ordained and appointed Curate to St. George's, September 24th, 1876. Previously to his ordination he had laboured for twenty-six years in connection with the London City Mission, and was much beloved and respected in the district among the people to whom he has been and still is so much blessed.
The population of the Ecclesiastical parish in 1871 was 16,172.[1] The register dates from the year 1858. The area is 443 acres.—John Gwynn, Samuel Lathey, Churchwardens.
[1] St. Andrew's Temporary Iron Church, Patmore Street, was opened on St. Andrew's Day, Saturday, Nov. 30, 1878, by the Bishop of Guildford, late Dr. Utterton. The persons who took part in the service were Canon Clarke, Revs. Lander, Hamilton and Kirk. Rev. G. Hamilton is the Mission Clergyman. Some few years ago a gentleman offered to put up a Church in South London. St. George's Parish, Battersea, was named as being in need of one. A short time after the promise was made the gentleman died. His widow anxious to carry out her deceased husband's intentions, set apart the amount for the purchase and removal of the Iron Church, which then stood in Chelsea.
According to the census of 1881, the inhabited houses and population of Battersea were as follows:—
| Number of | Number of | |
| Inhabited Houses. | Inhabitants. | |
| St Mary's | 3758 | 24595 |
| Christ Church | 2011 | 14404 |
| St Peter's | 1183 | 8919 |
| St John's | 1068 | 7069 |
| St Saviour's | 1747 | 14172 |
| St Philip's | 2444 | 17428 |
| St George's | 2380 | 20612 |
| Total | 14591 | 107199 |
"I love her gates, I love the road;
The church adorned with grace
Stands like a palace built for God
To show his milder face."—Watts.