Church of St John the Divine

St John the Divine stands on Kew Road in Richmond, a short walk from Richmond railway station. Built in 1836 to designs by Lewis Vulliamy, it is a Grade II listed church in the Early Gothic Revival style. The need for a second parish church arose as Richmond grew rapidly in the early 19th century. Local landowner William Selwyn provided the building site. By 1838 it became a parish church in its own right. The church is notable for its Victorian organ by Beale and Thynne, installed in 1896 and still largely unchanged. In the early 20th century Arthur Grove added a chancel, chapel and vestries. Nathaniel Westlake painted the sanctuary ceiling with scenes from the Book of Revelation and carved the triptych behind the altar. Eric Gill contributed stone carvings, and Richard Garbe created the Calvary sculpture on the east front. The church hall was built in 1911. Inside, visitors find the restored Lady Chapel reredos from the early 21st century. The sanctuary ceiling shows Westlake’s vivid illustrations, and the triptych and Stations of the Cross reliefs remain prominent. The church’s modern liberal Catholic worship continues each Sunday and Tuesday.