Designed by Leeds architect John Kelly, the church was commissioned in 1899 by Rachel Laetitia Warde (née Walker) (1841–1906) to accommodate the expected suburban expansion of Petersham[4] and, using funds from his estate, as a memorial to her father, Samuel Walker (1812–1898) who had died the previous year. She also commissioned an accompanying church hall and institute as a memorial to her aunt Ellen.[5] The frieze above the hall's front entrance has the inscription "AD 1900. Ellen Walker Thy Kingdom Come. Memorial Church Room".[5][6]
However, Mrs Warde died three years before the project was finished and it was completed by her son Lionel[1] (1876–1963). The church's foundation stone was laid in November 1901[7] and the church was dedicated by the Bishop of Kingston, Cecil Hook, in April 1909.[8]
The church, and the church hall and institute[2] (which is also Grade II listed),[6] were erected in the grounds of Bute House (previously the residence of British Prime Minister John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute,[9] and which was demolished in 1908).
The church was never consecrated as the anticipated growth in Petersham's population did not take place.[4] However, it was used occasionally by the parish and also by the Greek Orthodox Church.[4] It continued to be used for weddings until 1981 but ceased to be used as a church in 1986.[10]
The church hall was used as Petersham's village hall until the early 21st century.[19]
Architecture
The church was built in red brick and terracotta[2] in the style of a basilica.[1] The campanile (bell tower) is 118 feet high,[1] with a pyramidal roof crowned by a figure of Christ overlooking Richmond Park. Bridget Cherry and Nikolaus Pevsner described the architectural style as "[e]mphatically Italian Early Christian or Romanesque", the interior as "lavish" and the baptistery as "quite exceptional".[2] The nave had a grey and white marble central aisle taken from Tournai Cathedral in Belgium.[1] To the north was an octagonal baptistery including a tank for total immersion. The altar, which was raised to a considerable height above the floor of the nave, had a tall reredos and rood.[9]