St Margaret's, Putney is situated in Putney Park Lane, Putney, London, England. It was designed by W. Allen Dixon in 1872. Prior to its dedication to St Margaret as an Anglican church it was first a Baptist and then a Presbyterian chapel under the name of Granard Chapel. It is part of the Wandsworth Deanery in the Southwark Diocese of the Church of England, and is also a member of Churches Together in Putney and Roehampton. It is a member of Inclusive Church and during Winter months it runs a homeless shelter once a week with Glass Door. The vicar is currently (2020) the Revd Dr Brutus Green.
Granard Chapel
The original parish church for Putney from Norman times was St Mary the Virgin, Wimbledon, a four-mile walk away. By 1302 St Mary the Virgin, Putney had been built in its current place by the river as a Chapel of Ease, becoming its own parish in 1658. The Victorians, ever keen church builders constructed Holy Trinity, Roehampton in 1842 (becoming a parish in 1862), St John's in 1859 and All Saints’ In 1874. From 1871 to 1911 the population of Putney grew from 9000 to 25,000 requiring a further church. In 1872, The Building News and Engineering Journal recorded that W. Allen Dixon was acting as architect for Colonel Alexander Croll in alterations to Granard Park (or Lodge), Putney Park Lane, Roehampton, and the construction of a new church in its grounds. It was originally a Baptist chapel completed in 1873 in memory of his mother, for the lodge which is now the site of Granard primary school. In 1879 was sold to Presbyterians. When the chapel was transferred to the Presbyterians the Reverend Donald Matheson was appointed minister. He was a bright young thing who, having studied in Germany, where liberal attitudes to Biblical criticism were prevalent, controversially brought in the new translation of the Bible, the Revised Standard Version on its publication in 1881. He was keen on singing and held classes for his congregation as well as sending out postcards with the Sunday hymns on for his flock to practice. Most notably he set up the Granard Debating Society, where a young Ramsay MacDonald opened a debate on socialism. Within the congregation was also the Victorian Liberal and Radical John Bright and a future Lord Chancellor, Douglas Hogg, the first Viscount Hailsham. By 1898 the Presbyterians had moved to Briar Walk and the chapel was left vacant.
Dedication to St Margaret
With rising numbers in Putney, Canon Thurston Rivington, vicar of Putney, was on the lookout for a new church building for the developing West Putney. After a slow moving appeal for the £2000 needed, Mr Seth Taylor, having thankfully foregone former ideas of turning it into a laundry or simply knocking it down, magnanimously gave the chapel to Putney parish. The church was dedicated to St Margaret of Antioch, the namesake of one of Mr Taylor's daughters, on Saturday 5 October 1912 by Bishop Hook. The church overflowed with people singing the first hymn: “Christ is Made the Sure Foundation”. As it stood at this time there was a meeting room under the church, which hosted the Granard Debating Society. It was designed with a high ceiling to accommodate the heavy smokers, which meant the floor of the church was greatly elevated and there was a great set of steps outside leading to a triple archway. These were disposed of and a new flat topped porch built at ground level. They also removed the large full immersion Baptist font which was located in the middle of the nave, brought in electric lights, heating and new oak pews, and trimmed the ivy. Much of this work was paid for by our generous benefactor Seth Taylor, whose family continued to support the parish after his death in 1917. But as a former Baptist chapel St Margaret's is unusual in the Church of England for facing North, not East. As one incumbent has said, “There will not be many Anglican Churches which can claim the distinction of being descended from both Baptists and Presbyterians.” (1959), the Revd C.J. Studdert-Kennedy, vicar of St Margaret's, Putney (1956-1966).