The parish of St Paul's Kingston Hill was created in 1870 when the population was 3000. The curate of St Peter's Norbiton, Revd Cornford, paid £600 of his own money for the construction of a corrugated iron chapel on the corner of Park and Elm Roads. Mainly due to the expansion of the railway, over the next 10 years much of the local area, formerly open fields and market gardens, was covered in housing as the population grew to 7000.
As the number of local residents increased it soon became apparent that a larger church was needed. The foundation stone (which can still be seen inside the church) was laid on 10 June 1876 by Princess Mary Adelaide, Duchess of Teck, mother of Queen Mary, who lived at White Lodge in Richmond Park. Limited funds meant that only the nave and aisles were built, although these were said to be able to accommodate a congregation of 664. Ten years later there was an appeal for funds to complete the church.
The vicarage, adjacent to the church on Queen's Road, was purchased in 1908 for £1,575.
The chancel and ambulatory were built in 1911.
In 1924 the South Transept was dedicated and all debts cleared. The same year the church bell was installed, formerly the ship's bell of HMS Conqueror. The North Transept was added in 1928. The building is now grade 2 listed.
The church is used weekly by all sorts of groups from the church and local community including three toddler groups, an over-60s club, the Alpha course and a Korean church, together with a range of Sunday worship. The church is open to the public on Heritage Open Day.
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.