PLYMOUTH |
The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History |
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St George's Church was situated in Chapel Street, East Stonehouse, Plymouth. The story of St George's Church, Stonehouse, goes back to an ancient chapel that occupied a site where the Royal William Victualling Yard was later built. It was mentioned as far back as 1472 and came within the parish of Plymouth St Andrew's. This Chapel was still in existence in 1606, when the seats were sold and the money raised was used to repair the fabric. In 1672 money was again spent on repairing the Chapel, with what was deemed a huge outlay of £10 18s 8d being spent on the windows alone. Its dedication is somewhat confusing, however. Although generally referred to as the Chapel of St Lawrence, attention was drawn in 1924 by Mr J T Trelawny-Ross of Ham to a deed dated 12th year of the Reign of King Henry VII in which a Mr John Melett and Mr Lawrence Serle were declared to be the wardens of the Chapel of St George, Martyr, of East Stonehouse. Mr Trelawny-Ross considered, after reviewing all the known evidence, that the Chapel probably had a dual dedication. An Act of Parliament in 1787 authorised the rebuilding of this Chapel and the creation of a separate parish of East Stonehouse. A subscription was started for the erection of a larger church to serve this new parish. A new location was chosen, probably, it is thought, to make the Chapel more accessible to the Royal Marines from the new Barracks. This may have influenced the retention of the dedication to St George, who was not only patrion saint of England but also a soldier. The Church was completed in 1789 and was a plain building of stone in the Doric style. It consisted of chancel, nave, porch, and what has been described as 'a disproportioned' tower with pinnacles. It held a peel of eight bells which were given in 1897 by Mr John Edward Bone and his wife, Caroline, in memory of his parents, John and Eleanor. The Church was renovated in 1882-83 with the addition of a new chancel at a cost of over £2,000, after which it could accommodate 1,100 worshippers. At one time around 220 of the sittings were held freehold but these were later conveyed to trustees for the purpose of making them freely open to the public. The organ was constructed by Messrs Hill & Son. There was a vicarage under the patronage of the Vicar of St Andrew's Church in Plymouth. It held monuments to Commander Balderstone of HMS Parthian; Captain Swaffield, who was killed when HMS Amphion blew up in the Hamoaze in 1796; Mr Alexander Leslie (Lord Newark) (1791); Lieutenant Burke, mortally wounded at Brest in 1801; Rear-Admiral Worth (1807); and Mr Thomas Parlby (1802), amongst others. The Church was damaged in World War Two and services were held in 1953 in St Paul's Church. It was acquired by the Council for £1,400 in December 1957 and the stonework was used in the construction of the Lady Chapel at St Gabriel's Church, Mutley. The graves were removed to Efford Cemetery but eh tombstones and monuments were reported as to be 'broken and dispersed'. The site was turned over to industrial use in 1959. The following description appeared in "The Panorama of Plymouth", published in 1812: 'The chapel is neatly and commodiously fitted up and has a small organ in it which accompanies a good choir of singers; indeed, the whole chapel has the air when filled of one of those elegant religious assemblies that adorn the metropolis. Scarce any of the lower classes are to be seen within its walls: this may render it more pleasing as a polite assembly of well-dressed females, but is painful to the reflecting part of mankind'. St George's Mission The memorial stone of the St George's Mission Room in Market Street, Stonehouse, was laid by the Bishop of Exeter on June 27th 1888. For many years the vicar, the Reverend P R Scott, and curates of St George's Church had undertaken evangelical work in the well-populated area from a room over a stable. Despite its approach by a narrow staircase, Sunday Schools, temperance meetings, evening classes for men and even a cricket club for boys had been held in or run from that room. The Earl of Mount Edgcumbe gave the site upon which the Mission was to be erected. It was expected to cost £900 and nearly half of that had been raised by the date of the stone-laying.
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