St Barnabas West Hackney
Diocese of London
Closed Church, 623098
http://www.saintbarnabasdalston.org.uk/This church is on the Heritage at Risk Register (verified 2025-11-06)
View more information about this church on the Heritage at Risk website
Overview
Grid reference: TQ 338 855
The current building was constructed 1910-11 to designs by Professor Sir Charles Reilly, to replace a mission church of 20 years earlier, using a grant from ICBS. It was not consecrated until 1929 and only completed in 1934-7, when Reilly painted the chancel screen and rood, and added a vestry. It is an early example of the adaptation of Romanesque under modernist principles, as well as being well proportioned to fit the narrow site. St Barnabas' is a stern and bold design, although its main features, the concrete domes, are only visible from within or above. All of the windows are single-light and round-arched with small square panes framed with steel.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
The church is open to visitors every day from 8 am to 4pm Access ramp, accessible toilets and parking available Visitor toilets, baby changing facilities and parking available
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Well adapted to narrow site. 3-bay nave with low passage aisles, shallow transepts, north organ chamber and vestry, apsidal chancel and sunken ambulatory to east leading to crypt, south chapel.
Dimensions:
Nave c 18m (60ft) x 7m (22ft), chancel 12m long (40ft).
Footprint of Church buildings: 580 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
The present church was built 1910-11 to the designs of Professor Sir Charles Reilly. It replaced a tin tabernacle Merchant Taylors’ Mission Church built 20 years earlier. The ICBS provided a grant. The building was consecrated as a parish church in 1929, and completed by Reilly in 1934-7 with painting of the chancel screen and rood and addition of the south vestry. The Council advised on this work at the time. Since 1955 it has served the parish of West Hackney with St Pauls.
Exterior Description
The church is an early example of the adaptation of Romanesque under modernist principles. Stern and bold, the main design feature - its concrete domes - are only visible from inside or from the air, and are expresses externally by segmental gables. All windows are single lights, tall and round-arched with small square panels framed with steel, round window high in the west front and transept ends.
Building Fabric and Features
Nave
20th century 3-bay nave
Aisle
20th century low passage aisles
Transept
20th century shallow transepts
Vestry
20th century north organ chamber and vestry
Chancel
20th century apsidal chancel
Ambulatory (interior)
20th century sunken
Crypt
20th century
Chapel (component)
20th century south chapel
Building Materials
Brick
20th century yellow stock brick
Concrete
20th century dressings and vaults
Steel
20th century vault reinforcement
Asphalt
20th century in vault
Interior
Interior Description
Inside the walls are bare brick, the concrete domes rendered in grey. Tall and wide nave with an early example of narrow passage aisles conceived as processional ways, the arcades have segmental concrete lintels. Baptistery in arched recess at (liturgical) west end with huge concrete font. The north transept houses the organ loft with open timber balustrade; behind this a projecting choir vestry, lined with photographs of incumbents.
Concrete screed floors covered in linoleum, quarry tiles in apse, timber floors to organ chamber and vestry. The seating is open-backed chairs. A brightly painted timber rood screen divides the nave and chancel, with elaborate iron gates presented in 1915, completed as Reilly intended in 1935-6 with figures designed by Tyson Smith in memory of the Denby family. It rises from a low brick wall with inbuilt ambos.
The east apse has a raised altar and sunken ambulatory behind an openwork wooden screen. Choir stalls and sanctuary chairs by Reilly. Two large free-standing lead candelabra, Romanesque style with symbols of the Evangelists on the bases. Smaller versions on the altar and matching hanging lamps. South altar with marble reredos in Lady Chapel.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
20th century wooden chest altars
Reredos
20th century Modernist marble reredos to the south chapel, 1930s
Pulpit
20th century carved oak Gothic pulpit brought from Christchurch, Pendlesham Road
Lectern
20th century plain wooden
Font (component)
20th century concrete octagonal cylinder, huge, wooden lid
Stained Glass (window)
20th century East window of the Lady Chapel has the Dove. East window of chancel apse the Good Shepherd in memory of Maude Child, died 1890.
Plaque (component)
20th century several brass plaques and inscriptions on the piers to clergy who served here
Organ (component)
20th century 2-manual organ in a Georgian style rosewood case
Portable Furnishings and Artworks
registers from 1929 +
Churchyard
Grid reference: TQ 338 855
Burial and War Grave Information
It is unknown whether the building is consecrated.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has war graves.
National Heritage record for England designations
There are no records of National Heritage assets within the curtilage of this site.
Environment
Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
There are no records of Ancient, Veteran or Notable Trees within the curtilage of this site.
Renewables
| Renewable | Installed |
|---|---|
| Solar PV Panels | No |
| Solar Thermal Panels | No |
| Biomass | No |
| Wind Turbine | No |
| Air Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ev Charging | No |
Species summary
There are no records of species within the curtilage of this site.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
'Seek advice' Species
More information on species and action to be taken upon discovery.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
Further information
Quinquennial Inspections
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