Church of Our Lady of the Assumption, Englefield Green

The Church of Our Lady of the Assumption stands in Englefield Green, a village in Surrey close to Egham Hill. Built between 1930 and 1931, it was designed by Joseph Goldie in an Italian basilica style. The church faces Harvest Road on the older side of the village near St Cuthbert’s Close. English Heritage described it as ‘a thumping great church’ in one report and praised its Romanesque detailing over others built in the 1930s. The Jurgens family funded its construction and chose the dedication to the Assumption of Our Lady. The old wooden church was later attached and now serves as the parish hall. The church’s exterior features a polygonal sanctuary and a tower on the southeast side. Chapels flank both transepts, and the building is painted white with Roman tiles on the roof. A priest’s house sits to the east and the parish hall to the south, all in matching white. Inside, the nave has a narrow central aisle and cloistered side aisles, with the entire interior painted. Above the main altar hangs a 17th-century painting of the Assumption of Mary by the Spanish artist Antonio Palomino. The organ was donated by David Greig, owner of the supermarket chain. The church belongs to the parish of Saint Cuthbert, which also includes Saint John of Rochester Church in Egham Hythe and the Catholic chaplaincy at Royal Holloway College. The interior blends classical elements with modern simplicity, creating a calm space for worship. The attached parish hall retains the character of the original wooden church. The white walls and Roman tiles give the building a clean, unified appearance. The painted interior and historic altarpiece add depth to the worship experience. The church remains a quiet but striking landmark in the village.