St George’s
Because of the shortfall in contributions, the architect modified the specifications, resulting in what was feared would be a plain church, seating only 300 people. The south aisle, organ chamber and vestries were excluded. A north transept was included but no 'lady chapel' was mentioned.
The ceremony of laying the Foundation Stone in the wall of the Baptistery by Lord Ashcombe took place on 18 November 1905. The Ecclesiastical Commissioners agreed to the dedication of the new church to St. George.
The Iron Church, which was standing on the same site, was successfully moved on rollers to a new location and eventually became the scout hut for the 1st Ashtead ‘Pelham’ Scout Troop. Only five months after building started the main part of the church was finished.
On 21st April 1906, two days before St. George’s Day, the church was consecrated. Although the finished church was plain it was generally felt to be 'charming' by most contemporaries.
In 1908 an organ chamber was built to house an organ given by Mr Garlick who had also donated the altar and bell. A vestry was added behind the organ on the south-east side of the church.
The first building project after the Second World War was the construction of a church hall in 1954. The hall fitted neatly into the site abutting the east end of St George's Church. There had been plans for a hall in the mid-1930s on the south side of the church but lack of funds delayed the project.
A new east window was installed in 1961, in place of three former lancet windows, the shafts of light from which had obscured the rest of the sanctuary. The new window was designed by Christopher Webb on the lines of a window he had designed in 1957 for the Commonwealth Chapel at St. Lawrence Jewry in the City of London. The area to the north of the chancel, which had been used as a children's corner for many years, was converted to a Lady Chapel in 1950. In 1962 a pastel-shaded open metalwork screen was erected between the choir stalls and the chapel in memory of the Rev. A.W. Douglas, a retired clergyman who had assisted at St. George's.
A south aisle was added in 1964. The temporary south wall built between the brick pillars in 1906 was removed and space for 120 chairs provided. The aisle was given large windows and a low-pitched roof with a blue and white ceiling. New clusters of pendant lights were introduced throughout the church suspended from steel bars, and concealed lighting in the side windows of the chancel. The single vestry of 1908 was divided into clergy and choir rooms behind the organ, with a new bay window on the south. The new work was dedicated on 20th October 1964.
In the 1980s a dais was constructed between nave and chancel covered with gold-coloured carpeting. A portable font was introduced, with a light oak pedestal, the work of church member, Graham Laird, with a stainless-steel bowl, processed to resemble hammered pewter, made at Richard Quinnell's forge in Leatherhead.
In the years following the Second World War, the tradition changed to become firmly evangelical and there was a growth in informal worship. A committee was set up in 1988 to look at reordering the church and redeveloping the entire site. After several years of planning, the decision was made in 1995 to proceed with the St George's Project. The work involved demolishing the old hall, room, office and vestries and rebuilding a two-story extension to the church incorporating a large new welcoming entrance into the former side chapel serving the whole building. A similar entrance and foyer were created at the rear with a reception area. The accommodation includes a café, hall, a number of meeting rooms and offices. The church was opened up by removing the residual screen, choir stalls and pulpit and replacing them with portable oak furniture designed once again by Graham Laird. The Bishop of Guildford officially opened the re-ordered complex on 16th September 2001.