St Charles Borromeo Chapel on Heath Road is the original Catholic Church in Weybridge. It is now the World Mission Korean Presbyterian Church. It is one of only two Grade 2 star listed buildings in Weybridge. It might look a sad church, but it has history..... Restoration started in July 2005, to bring it back to its original splendour. The history of the building starts when it was built as a chapel and mausoleum for the Roman Catholic Taylor family who lived in the house, firstly known as Waterloo and later Waverley cottage which dates from 1816. The chapel's importance is its connection with the French royal family who worshipped there in exile and were buried there, and with Queen Victoria, whose cousin and close friend the Duchess of Nemours was also buried in the crypt. The chapel has unique glass which has wonderful colours and depth of detail - Weybridge is the only place where this glass may now be found. The surrounding Architecture still requires help. But the glass is wonderful in full light. The tomb effigy of the Duchess of Nemours was originally carved, sometime between August 1881 and 5 October 1883, for the small domed and castellated mausoleum chapel attached to the formerly Roman Catholic church of St. Charles Borromeo, in Weybridge, Surrey. The church crypt temporarily housed the tombs of the exiled French King Louis-Philippe (died 1850), who was the Duchess of Nemours’ father-in-law, and twelve other members of the French royal family, who died in England between 1856 and 1876. Louis-Philippe and the Orléans family had fled into exile from the Paris revolution of 1848 and had been housed by Queen Victoria on the nearby royal estate of Claremont, near Esher, Surrey. Queen Victoria, despite the political dangers, of which she was warned by her Prime Minister, was very supportive of the exiled King and his family, whom she had first met in France in 1843. This event was celebrated as the first meeting between French and English monarchs since 1520. As well as offering shelter she encouraged courtiers to write letters to 'The Times' sympathising with the plight of “these poor exiles” and often invited the Duchess of Nemours in particular, of whom she was very fond, to stay privately at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight. You are looking for a micro container, it might have a writing implement but please bring your own.
Parking is limited and watch out for school muggles and stealth could be required at certain times.
If anybody would like to expand to this series please do, I would just ask that you could let Sadexploration know first so he can keep track of the Church numbers and names to avoid duplication
To view the church micro stats page, please click here