Ranmore Common Road Dorking
01306884229

Welcome to St Barnabas' Church on Ranmore Common which has been known for many years as "The Church on the North Downs Way". A few years ago Bishop Christopher [of Guildford] visited the church for the first time and remarked "I have discovered that I have another cathedral in the woods".

 

ST BARNABAS' CHURCH IS PART OF A UNITED BENEFICE WITH ST MARTIN'S CHURCH IN DORKING

TO DISCUSS MARRIAGES, BAPTISMS OR FUNERALS PLEASE CONTACT THE ST MARTIN'S CHURCH OFFICE                             at The Christian Centre, St Martin's Church, Church Street, Dorking, Surrey RH4 1DW

DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC THE CHURCH OFFICE IS NOT OPEN TO VISITORS, but telephone and email messages will get a response from people working from home. Please be patient.

Telephone: 01306 884229 Other enquiries can be submitted by email to [email protected] or through our Get in touch page which is lower down on the main menu.

 FOR NEWS OF CURRENT ACTIVITIES PLEASE CLICK ON monthly newsletter to the left of this page.

(PLEASE NOTE THAT ON A TABLET THIS WEBSITE IS BEST VIEWED IN LANDSCAPE FORMAT)

Details of Clergy and PCC ‘Management' officers can be found in the Newsletter.

The parish of Ranmore is sparsely populated and most of the small but faithful congregation come from surrounding parishes to experience the special spiritual ambience of this remarkable building, a gem of art and architecture. Most, but not all, services follow the Book of Common Prayer (the church is affiliated to the Prayer Book Society and the Royal School of Church Music) and new members are always welcome and we invite them to help us maintain the life and the fabric of this church.

The church was built in 1859 by George Cubitt MP who became the 1st Baron Ashcombe in 1892. His architect was Sir George Gilbert Scott who designed a 'High Victoriana' scaled-down cathedral to serve the people who worked on the Denbies Estate and a school in a similar style was built next door. A hundred years ago the number of people working on the estate and their families was counted as between 300 and 400 and a full time Rector looked after them living in the Rectory behind the trees opposite the church. The church is listed Grade II* and is virtually unchanged since 1859. A more detailed history of the church can be found in the "Brief History of the Church" in the panel to the left.

St John's Church Road Wotton Dorking
01306 731142
http://www.wottonchurch.org/

St. John’s is situated in the scattered hamlet of Wotton standing proudly at the end of Church Lane overlooking a broad sweep of the North Downs. The parish itself is a long finger stretching from the foot of the North Downs to Friday Street. The church dates back to Saxon times although only a few of the original footings now remain to the west of the Norman tower. Much of the church was of necessity restored in Victorian times but there are still many interesting original feature to see. Of particular note are some unusual carved heads around the porch door including those of King John and Archbishop Stephan Langton. The church also contains the Evelyn Chapel where there are some magnificent monuments and the tomb of John Evelyn, the diarist. Services are held every Sunday and of particular appeal to some worshippers is the Prayer Book Matins service held on the first Sunday of each month. We aspire to make all who come to Wotton feel welcomed and warmly included in our worship. A Children’s Corner is provided for very young children at the back of the church.

In 1979 we became a Joint Benefice with the neighbouring parish of Holmbury St. Mary and conduct several joint services and home groups with them. Recently the Benefice has been expanded to include the other churches of the former Leith Hill Group: St. James, Abinger and Christ Church, Coldharbour.

Read more about us on our New Website

Guildford Road, Wotton, RH5 6HS
(01306) 730000
wottonhouse.co.uk

Originally the home of the botanist John Evelyn, this 17th century 111 room hotel is situated in 20 acres of land and down a long driveway from the main road. The main bar is the 1877 Bar which is situated to the left of reception as you en...

Friday Street, Friday Street, RH5 6JR
(01306) 730775
stephanlangton.pub

This pub and restaurant is named after a local man who became the Archbishop of Canterbury in 1206 and who was involved in the writing of Magna Carta, a copy of which is displayed in the bar. Stephan Langton, reputedly born in Friday Street...

Guildford Road, Wotton, RH5 6QQ
(01306) 887694
wottonhatch.co.uk/

This is a large roadside pub, set on the busy A25 Guildford to Dorking main road, and has a 300 year history. There are large well-appointed bar areas, including a conservatory providing a number of comfortable eating and drinking areas, al...