Site: Old church - Stanmore (1 memorial)
HA7, Uxbridge Road, St John the Evangelist, Stanmore
The plaque is just inside the ruin, near a locked gate in the south-facing wall. Nearby a modern notice lists the dates on which the building can be visited.
St John's Church gives the history of this ruined church and the current one beside it. But there was an even earlier church. A 14th century church of St. Mary used to stand about a mile to the south, near the Wolverton Road bridge. This was abandoned in 1632 and replaced with St John's, now the ruin on Uxbridge Road. When a larger one was needed in 1850 it was built beside the previous one, which was to be demolished. But local opposition was strong so the destruction was halted, leaving the ruin we have today.
In our researches, when a new church is needed it is normally built on the site of the old one. But they've done things differently in Stanmore, twice.
