St George’s Woolwich

Repository Road, Greenwich.

Grade II. 1863 by T.H. Wyatt.

This church was hit by a flying bomb on 13th July 1944, and only the apse remains. It was built as the church for the Royal Artillery Regiment. The apse still forms an important historical monument, holding the Royal Artillery Victoria Cross Memorial, which is decorated with a magnificent Italianate mosaic of St George and the Dragon. The apse’s protective roof has blown off, and the mosaics and memorial plaques are now exposed to wind and rain and are at serious risk. A new roof is expected to cost £150,000. The Royal Artillery Regiment have £24,000 put aside towards restoring the mosaics. With the regiment having left Woolwich for Larkhill, the long-term welfare of the chapel is uncertain. The Trust has offered £5,000 towards the eventual restoration of the mosaics, and is actively working with English Heritage and Greenwich Council to fundraise for the roof and devise a long-term use for the chapel. In July 2009, Director Diana Beattie and Trustees Nicholas Bell, Ronnie Barden, and Ed Vaizey MP, Shadow Arts Minister, visited the building to discuss future plans with English Heritage, Greenwich Council and representatives from Woolwich Barracks.

* article about St George's Woolwich by Diana Beattie from "Duliwch on View"

photo: Ed Vaizey MP (centre) at a visit to St George's Woolwich on July 2nd, 2009.