UPDATE: APRIL 9, 2026: Council’s Own Heritage Adviser Rejects Developer’s Case

The Council’s independent Built Heritage advisers, Place Services, have now submitted their formal response to the developer’s retrospective Listed Building Consent application (RU.26/0173). Their conclusion is unambiguous: the retention of the uPVC windows cannot be supported.

https://www.change.org/p/object-to-vandalistic-harm-of-stained-glass-windows-at-grade-ii-christ-church-longcross/u/34468689

 

UPDATE: APRIL 3, 2026: Private Eye Nooks & Corners: "Retrospective application to keep the horrible work would set a terrible example"

In the most recent edition of Private Eye (Issue 1672 3 April 2026), the section dedicated to all things regarding architecture and historic preservation, “Nooks and Corners”,  covered the woeful case of Christ Church Longcross.

"Alas, that status has been wrecked by developer Gary Humphreys, who has taken out most of the fine stained-glass windows by noted artists and replaced them with, er, chunky white UPVC windows."

“The developer was asked to submit a listed building consent application to at least replace the UPVС frames with timber. But what Mr Humphreys actually submitted in February was a retrospective application to keep the horrible work he has already done.”

“While much of the damage to the glass may be irreparable, allowing the UPVC windows to stay would set a terrible example for the care of listed and historic buildings everywhere.”

 

https://www.change.org/p/object-to-vandalistic-harm-of-stained-glass-windows-at-grade-ii-christ-church-longcross/u/34458946

The Applicant's most recent response to the Historic England and other objections continues to fail to provide any written evidence from an Accredited Heritage Timber Conservation Specialist, either at the time the unlawful works were undertaken or with the current retrospective application, which supports the contention uPVC was the only viable option. The most recent response also fails to address the heritage harm of the loss of 50% of the Stained Glass windows, 100% of the Historic Leaded Light windows, or any of the other heritage harms identified in the Council's Built Heritage and Enforcement Report. 

🚨 HOW TO OBJECT - Still Time to Object Directly to the Council - Add your voice🚨

There is still time to object to Runnymede Borough Council, referencing application RU.26/0173, as the Council's Officer's Report is still outstanding. Objections can be submitted via the Council’s online planning portal using this link. 

 

UPDATE: MARCH 20, 2026: Case Covered on BBC News and Radio

https://www.change.org/p/object-to-vandalistic-harm-of-stained-glass-windows-at-grade-ii-christ-church-longcross/u/34409439

 

UPDATE: MARCH 16, 2026: Historic England OBJECTS to retrospective Listed Building application seeking to retain heritage harms

https://www.change.org/p/object-to-vandalistic-harm-of-stained-glass-windows-at-grade-ii-christ-church-longcross/u/34395362

 

UPDATE: March 10, 2026: Developer Seeks to Legalise Heritage Harms at Surrey’s Grade II Listed Longcross Church

A retrospective Listed Building Consent application attempts to retain unauthorised uPVC window frames and the loss of original historic glass — contradicting the Council’s own Heritage Adviser, who rated the harm at the “very highest end of the scale.”

You can read more in our update: https://www.change.org/p/object-to-vandalistic-harm-of-stained-glass-windows-at-grade-ii-christ-church-longcross/u/34370814

UPDATE: Jan 8, 2026: Developer FAILS to meet Planning Committee deadline

At the Planning Committee 3 September 2025, the developer, Gary Humphreys, was given four months to:

“negotiate with the Council & Place Services* and to submit a listed building consent application to the Council with regard to the works undertaken or proposed remedial works”.

(*Place Services is the Council’s Built Heritage Advisor)

The developer has failed to meet this deadline, with no Listed Building Planning application listed on the Runnymede Borough Council planning portal.

https://www.change.org/p/object-to-vandalistic-harm-of-stained-glass-windows-at-grade-ii-christ-church-longcross/u/34189947

 

UPDATE: Sept 3, 2025: Victory for Protecting and Preserving Built Heritage in Runnymede

Friends of Christ Church Longcross are very pleased to announce the successful outcome of their campaign to safeguard the “special architectural and artistic interest”, including the significant contribution of the historic Stained Glass windows, of the former Grade II listed church building.

After months of determined advocacy, we have secured a reconsidered Enforcement Decision by Runnymede’s Planning Committee that it is clear and unambiguous that the Listed Building planning breaches identified in the Built Heritage Advice are unauthorised, unlawful and enforceable.

The professional heritage advice of Place Services, the council’s heritage advisor, found the cumulative impact of the long list of harms of the unauthorised works to be very significant (of the “very highest end of the scale”) and recommended a series of remedies to mitigate those harms, including restoration and replacement with like-for-like materials where restoration is not possible.

Read more about our update here: 

https://www.change.org/p/object-to-vandalistic-harm-of-stained-glass-windows-at-grade-ii-christ-church-longcross/u/33854220

Read the full Enforcement Report and Place Services Heritage Advice presented at the Sept 3, 2025 Planning Committee. 

 

UPDATE: July 31, 2025

🌟 A major milestone was achieved last month when the council agreed a settlement to reconsider enforcement action with an independent Heritage Advisor under a High Court order. 🌟 

⚖️ What This Case Is About - and Why It Matters

Theresa Burton, a former local ward councillor for Runnymede Borough Council (RBC) and founder of Friends of Christ Church Longcross, launched a Judicial Review last December against the council arguing they failed in their duty to protect the heritage of a Grade II listed former church building which was noted to have beautiful stained glass windows.

The heritage listing noted it was:

⛪ “an unusually complete mid C19 country church”.⛪ 

While planning permission was given to convert the former church building into five flats, we now have a disgraceful state of affairs where: 

• over 50% of the original Stained Glass has been lost,
• 100% of the remaining historic leaded-light and grisaille glass has been removed,
• none of the original stained glass is presented in its original state,
• Stained Glass compositions have been moved and severed of their original context,
• Stained Glass compositions have lost continuity and coherence with the introduction of thick floor plates,
• the use of thick uPVC frames has necessitated the Stained Glass to be cropped to fit,
• despite no materials condition approving the use of uPVC, all window frames and dormer siding are of this non-traditional, unsympathetic material contrary to Historic England guidance*,
• the use of contemporary uPVC window frames introduces extraneous window ledges not in keeping with the original historic fabric,
• an incongruous rooflight has been introduced, and
• historic Bath stone surrounds have been plastered over.

RBC’s own Heritage Advisor stated:

“The works to the windows undertaken to date, go far beyond this approved scope.”

and commented:

“The loss of traditional windows from historic buildings poses one of the major threats to our heritage. Traditional windows and their glazing, particularly to historic churches, make an important contribution to their significance.

"They were of special architectural and artistic interest and made a considerable contribution to the significance of the designated heritage asset. They were an integral part of the design of the church and were important works of art in their own right; crafted with great skill and ingenuity with materials of a high quality."

The Victorian Society have commented on the “totally inappropriate works” and the "shocking" loss of the Stained Glass. 

The two main reasons for bringing this claim were:

(i)        The protection of the heritage of this former church building for the benefit of the local community, its setting within the curtilage of the listed Lychgate and Churchyard Wall and the wider Longcross area, as one of only two listed buildings which would be within the boundary of the Longcross Garden Village.

but also importantly:

(ii)        The wider public benefit in testing the law around planning permissions for Listed Buildings. This was a critical test case of the law and one which is of relevance to the protection of heritage assets across the country and the precedent it would set.

Our case was represented by Alex Goodman KC of Landmark Chambers with Leigh Day acting as our solicitors.

After the High Court agreed to hear the Judicial Review on the majority of the grounds brought, Runnymede Borough Council agreed to a settlement which the High Court approved on 13 June 2025.

The High Court Order requires the Council to reconsider taking enforcement action in respect of breaches of planning control on the Grade II Listed former church within 3 months.

A KC Opinion was prepared for the Planning Committee and sent to the council on the specifics of enforcement action for Listed Buildings.

 

Example of Stained Glass elements moved to new positions:

 

 

 

* Historic England have clear guidance why uPVC is unsuitable for Grade II listed buildings.

There is a lovely vignette of the interior of the church before development when a scene from Call the Midwife was filmed there:

https://twitter.com/CallTheMidwife1/status/1083815810924269568?s=20

The link below shares photos by a local photographer taken before development started which illustrates the church in great detail (original high res photos available): 

http://www.photoeyes.biz/church/longcross.htm

 

Contacting Friends of Christ Church Longcross:

If you have a family member interred in the graveyard and wish to join the group of over 22 members who have come together, or wish to contact us, please email fochristchurchlongcross@gmail.com