The following history is taken from a small publication entitled "Wrecclesham and its Roundabouts" by S. Evelyn Hicks.  It is a charming publication produced in 1939 by E.W.Langham for "one shilling and sixpence" that's 7.5p in today's money.

In 1820 Wrecclesham had apparently lapsed from grace.  There was only one street with cottages, there were four almshouses in the main street, and the Post Office boasted one delivery in the mornings and an outgoing mail. The nearest money order office was Farnham.

During this period Farnham was the only church for the whole district and the Bishop, then living at Farnham Castle, disturbed by the rumours of this erring village, determined to set some measures in place to bring the worship of God into the village.  The needs, temporal and spiritual, were carefully noted, and in 1840 we find the following enactment of an Act of Parliament:

"The Hamlet of Wrecclesham in the Parish of Farnham is situated nearly two miles from the church, which possesses very inadequate accommodation for so large a parish, and the effect of this deficiency presses most heavily on outlying districts… It has therefore been in contemplation to erect a new church in the centre of a district of some - now 800 inhabit­ants. This building will contain 400 sittings. It is to be endowed with one thousand pounds and is expected to cost the same amount exclusive of enclosing a new burial ground and of the proportion of 5% to be reserved. This will be for the repairing of the fabric"

Within a very short time subscriptions began to come in. The people seemed to grasp with alacrity the opportunity offered.The following make interesting reading as an example:

Over at Dippenhall a Mr. W. F. Paine, who owned the quarries there, gave all the stone for the building, also the site for the church and the burial ground.

Next came gifts in kind:

• Church bell (there was no turret for it as yet).
• Communion table and plate.
• A barrel organ, a stove and 1,000 bushels of lime.
• Two pounds for the seats and ten for the Parsonage.

Various other items followed, and from the former aloof attitude of Farnham, interest in this nearby village grew.  Under the Bishop and his wife committees were formed and divided into the following groups:

Then the Bishop interviewed his gardener, a wise and wary man.

"One is nearer to God in the garden than anywhere else in the world,” quoted His Lordship, adding with emphasis: “I feel sure an interest in growing flowers, fruit and vegetables will be a potent factor in the regeneration of the village."

Back of the Castle garden, up in shady corners or sunny borders appeared boxes of choice seedlings. These were earmarked for the Wrecclesham cottages, and gradually down in the hamlet plots and well turned beds of soil gave promise of crops of food and flowers.

The Ladies’ Committee evolved a further plan.  Quietly but diligently they visited the village and at the Castle meetings submitted reports.

The men, never to be outdone by their weaker if better halves, visited more vigorously. White washing, painting and outside improvements and repairs bore good results, and as the years passed and the inhabitants multiplied, a change was visible to all.

The Bishop’s Club and Show Day was the next interest that intrigued all and sundry. The gardener and the Bishop announced that there would be a flower and vegetable show in the summer and that the Castle would judge all entries. In due time from the neighbouring hamlets came the villagers and inhabitants and placed on the tables and trestles their handiwork. The prizes ranged from one shilling up to many, freely, donated and gathered from subscription.

The prize money was tied up in bags or envelopes and carefully labeled. After the prize-giving, all the products were for sale, and some reaped a fair harvest.

At the last came an unexpected announcement from the Ladies’ Committee. This was the report of their visits to the village, with notice taken of the manners, cleanliness and good behaviour of the children at the Sunday classes. The most praiseworthy housewife started back when she heard her name called and a recital of her virtues and skill made public.

The Bishop went further.  With his wife, he presented her with a special gift and, turning to her husband, congratulated him on his “priceless possession” of one like the famous wife in the Book of Proverbs.

Probably she found such open acknowledg­ment of herself embarrassing when she returned home. Also her husband received good natured chaff from his mates. There is no chronicle of this event becoming an annual proceeding. There is also no law preventing its continuance!