St George’s church is built in the Georgian style, unique within the city of Portsmouth and it is the oldest and most historic building within the parish. The church is known as the shipwrights' church having been built by fifteen shipwrights from the dockyard overseen by Nicholas Vass. They were joined in the construction by "three gentlemen, one carpenter, one tallow chandler and one grocer”. Together they completed the building of the church in six months after which it was dedicated to St George. During the Second World War, the area of Portsea suffered badly from bombing raids. The old Georgian houses in the square almost entirely disappeared, and St George's was badly damaged. The church was closed for ten years from 1941 - 1951 until a preliminary restoration in 1952 followed by further works twenty years later.