Hornchurch began as the administrative centre for the royal estates and the centre of the parish. In the Middle Ages, Hornchurch became a wealthy town with its thriving leather trade.
This industry was so important that at one time the Hornchurch High Street was known as Pelt Street and its revenue was used by William of Wykeham to found New College, Oxford.
When New College, Oxford was endowed with St Andrew's and its lands (which are now the park), it appointed a Vicar Temporal to be, as the Book of Common Prayer would have expressed it, their 'Ordinary'.
As a result of this, the incumbent of Hornchurch enjoyed freedom from the jurisdiction of the Bishop. This was called a 'Peculiar' and ended in 1901.
Before 1901, the Bishop had to ask permission to enter the church. New College is still involved with the Bishop in appointing the Incumbent.
The grounds that now make up the park were acquired by Hornchurch District Council from St Mary College (New College) of Winchester in Oxford. The land for the park was acquired in two parcels, one measuring 2.92 acres and the other 4.38 acres, with the agreement signed on 19th May 1928.
Little development took place on the park pre-war. It was used as a green space for general recreation and winter sports. The main development of the park commenced in the 1950s, and continued through into the 1960s.
In the late 1960s, the park had a full time gardener and a park attendant. These were based in the park, in their own park staff building.
The park also had public toilets that disappeared when the staff cuts in the 1970s and 1980s reduced staffing numbers across many parks.
In 2008, there was a refurbishment of the play area, with additional equipment also added in 2010 as part of the Play Builder Project. In 2009, a new planting scheme was laid out around the park and it was submitted for Green Flag in 2010.
St Andrew’s Park covers an area of 7.5 acres. The park is mainly set to grassland on a slope that falls on a gentle gradient to the north.
