The South Merstham church bombed for Adolf Hitler's birthday
On 19 April, 1941, South Merstham in Surrey received a very unwelcome birthday present.As German bombers returned from London having taken part in raids to mark the birthday of Adolf Hitler the following day, planes from the raid dropped a surplus parachute mine into Battlebridge Lane which created an 180 sq ft (16.7 sq m) crater and destroyed All Saints Church.The church was damaged beyond repair, but from its salvaged remains rose Canada Hall, which stands in the village to this day.Its church warden, Mary Kennedy, says she does not think people walking past recognise the significance of the new building – or its name.
Speaking to Radio Surrey, she said: "The hall was built by Canadian soldiers billeted in the area. Everything in the building was built from salvaged material from the bombed church, except for some cement and paint.
"Local people believed it was because of the railway. Every time the village got bombed it was shortly after a train had gone through."I don't think people understand the history of it. They walk past it but not everyone realises why it is called that."The bomb did cause fatalities – 10 people died and the vicar of the church was severely injured.But from the ravaged church rose a new building. Initially intended as a temporary church, Canada Hall was consecrated in 1943 and dedicated in 1952.
In fact, the church was one of only two in the country to be consecrated during World War Two – the other was built by Italian prisoners of war on the Isle of Orkney.Now, information panels in the church share the history of the old building and what has since replaced it.In its new form, Canada Hall now stands as a key monument to South Merstham's wartime history.
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