CH11. Brass plate beneath stained glass window
To the Glory of God and to the memory of RICHARD CROFT, Vicar of the / parish of St. John the Baptist Hillingdon 1856 – 1869 during which time / the Churches of S. Andrew and S. Matthew were built / He died aged 60 Feb. 17 1869.
Richard Croft- a life remembered in stained glass
Half way down the north aisle there is a stained glass window depicting St Andrew, John the Baptist and St Matthew. The window was put there in memory of Reverend Richard Croft who was the Vicar of Hillingdon from 1856-1869. By the 1850s, the population in this area was beginning to rise, and Rev Croft saw the need for more churches. He gained permission to build 2 new churches, firstly in Yiewsley (St Matthew’s) which was consecrated in 1859 and then in the area which was then known as Hillingdon West (St Andrew’s), consecrated in 1865. Both churches were designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott.
Rev’d Croft was born in 1819 at Penshurst, Kent, son of Sir Richard Croft 6th Baronet Croft of Croft Castle (near Leominster). There is an interesting but sad story about Richard’s father who was the royal obstetrician which can be found on the Wikipedia website. Rev’d Croft was married twice, firstly to Charlotte Leonora Russell and they had 2 sons, but she died in 1854 whilst her husband was Vicar of Hartburn, Northumberland. In 1856 Rev Croft took up his position as Vicar of St John’s Hillingdon and he married Louisa Holland in 1857. Rev’d Croft then must have had a very busy few years setting up new 2 churches and in addition, the cemetery down the hill opened in 1867 so there was a lot going on!
He died in 1869 whilst still the Vicar of St John’s but his memory lives on in the stained glass window in our north aisle, St Andrew and St Matthew representing the 2 churches he set up plus St John the Baptist representing his role as Vicar in Hillingdon.
Christine Bartlett