The parish church of Hillingdon, dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, stands at the top of Hillingdon Hill at its junction with Royal Lane. It is built of flint with bath stone dressings and, like many old buildings, has been altered and enlarged over the centuries to meet the changing needs of the parish.

The earliest written reference to a church in Hillingdon is the grant by Brian Fitz Count, lord of Colham manor, of Hillingdon church to Evesham Abbey shortly after 1100. Nothing remains of that building.

The earliest part of the present building is acknowledged to be the chancel arch, dated around 1270. The western three bays of the nave and north and south aisles are dated mid 14th century, with the south aisle thought to be the earlier of the two aisles. The tower was built in 1629 to replace a medieval one taken down in 1623 because it was "ruinous." It is embattled, of three stages, with a cupola containing a bell and topped by a weather vane. The cupola is made of oak and is supported on six octagonal columns. The tower contains a peal of ten bells.

By the 1840s it was agreed that the church was not large enough to accommodate the growing local population (in 1847, it could seat about 600 people) and Mr (later Sir) George Gilbert Scott, a young architect, was appointed to report and advise. His report, dated 22 October 1846, recommended pulling down the existing chancel and extending the church eastwards and adding north and south transepts. The extension was built 1848-49 by Messrs. James Fassnidge of Uxbridge. The organ chamber was built alongside the south side of the chancel in 1887.

Major restoration was again undertaken in 1902. Dormer windows, removed in the 1848-9 rebuilding, were replaced in the roof of the nave and in the new part of the north aisle, and the chancel arch was raised in height by 4 feet 6 inches, thought to be more in keeping with the dimensions of the chancel. The gallery under the tower was removed in 1906 and tower repairs carried out in 1911 and again in 1981-6.

The east end of the north aisle was remodelled as a memorial chapel to the fallen of the First World war in 1922 and the war memorial was brought inside the church from its position on the outside of the north wall.

In 1964 the new vestry block, designed by Norman Haines was built to the north east of the church.

The church has a number of brasses, the best of which is the Le Strange Brass, dated 1509. It is said by Pevsner to be the most ambitious brass of the Middle Ages to survive in Greater London. It represents John, eighth Lord Strange of Knockin with his first wife Jacquetta, daughter of Richard Woodville. Her sister, Elizabeth, was Queen of Edward IV and mother of the Princes who were murdered in the Tower. Lord Strange died in 1479 (his wife predeceased him) and was buried in Hillingdon Church.

Saint John the Baptist, our patron Saint, was born when his parents were elderly. He prepared the way for the coming of Jesus. The window in the south wall of the chancel, based on the idea of the tree of life, shows episodes in his life. He was always truthful, even though this led to him being beheaded. His nativity is 24 June, and we celebrate his birthday each year with a Flower Festival at this time.

The church is not a museum, but a living church serving all who live in the parish and those from outside who wish to worship here. People have come to our church for over 800 years for the baptism of their children, to be married, and for the burial of their dead. Details of our Services are given in the Regular Worship section of this site, and you are welcome to attend any of them.

Information used from:

'A Guide For The New Millennium - Hillingdon Parish Church' by Audrey Wormald (March 2002)

Which can be purchased at the back of church. Price: £1.00