Chester: St Paul
Diocese of Chester
Closed Church, 609026
http://www.stpaulschester.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: SJ 418 664
In 1875-6 John Douglas, a significant local architect, added a brick outer layer to an existing Greek Revival style building of 1829-30 by William Cole, as well as extending it with an apsidal east end and much taller roof. West porch added 1900. Douglas also added a south aisle in 1902, and a spirelet in 1905.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Orientated north – south, liturgical orientation used throughout. Nave with west lobby and west porch, south-west baptistery and south aisle. Apsidal chancel.
Footprint of Church buildings: 407 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
Chester was an early settlement with evidence for prehistoric settlement. It became an important centre for the Roman military and the fortress, Deva, was established here AD74. In the medieval period, the city was large and prosperous, and a principal port.
Boughton is a suburb to the east of the city. A plan of 1580 shows it still retains a historic street alignment. The area was formerly known as Spital Boughton which related to the medieval hospital of St Giles. The areas’ springs and wells have supplied the city with water since Roman times, there remain waterworks and part of a viaduct arch near to the church. The area was however predominantly agricultural until the C19th. A steam mill and leadworks increased demand for housing in the area.
The first church on the site was designed by William Cole (1800-1892) in the Greek Revival style and built 1829-30. An ICBS grant was awarded for the new church. It has a pediment and short campanile in the south-west corner. The original church supposedly remains at the core of the church, though it is not easy to evidence. The stairway on the north side, and the undercroft are all that remain of this date.
In 1875-6 John Douglas (1830-1911), a local architect, added a brick outer layer to Cole’s, as well as extending it with an apsidal east end and much taller roof. A west porch was added 1900 and the inner lobby. Douglas later extended the church by adding a south aisle in 1902, and a spirelet in 1905.
Douglas was a local architect who trained with Paley and Austin in Lancaster and who attended the church. He was architect for many buildings in Cheshire and Wales. Hubbard writes of the church, ‘an awesome sense of strength and a sensitivity and feel for the material which is in accordance with the ‘artistic’ tenor of the age [i.e. Arts and Crafts]. In its big-boned simplicity of plan and in its use of structural timberwork on so bold a scale, St Paul’s is exceptional among Douglas’s churches…this is the prodigy of the ‘70s’.’
In his concluding remarks Hubbard notes ‘a leading provincial architect and one who exerted noticeable direct influence on others, Douglas was never a leader in the sense of being a pioneer of any significant new development or lasting school of design. He was, though, at times, a close follower of national stylistic trends whilst at the same time retaining his own individuality.’
Within a conservation area; TPOs apply as part of that designation.
There are no known burials on the site. There is high archaeological potential within close proximity to the site, with Roman finds being recorded within 500m of the church.
Exterior Description
An unusual design in a visible spot. Overall, it is short and wide, with a very tall apsidal east elevation due to the slope of the land. Largely of red brick with a lot of roof area and single cover to nave and aisles – other than a projection to the north linking to the hall, and a south-west octagonal project with turret roof. Viewed from the bottom of the hill to the south, looking to the east end the church could be of Bavarian design with gabled projections from the steep deep slated roofs (windows/ventilation), and the spiky additions of the west turret and metal crosses over the apex. The finish is largely of red brick and windows are pointed, a mixture of single and multiple lancets and two and three-light windows. The south side however is of timber-frame with brick infill, echoing the character of some of Chester’s best known buildings. It is raised on brick piers to overcome the change in ground level, and with square-headed wooden windows and pronounced curved eaves.
A clock face is visible on the south side of the turret, as well as in the apex of the west elevation.
The west elevation is all of one level and is less dramatic in overall character, but nevertheless full of detail. It has a central stone porch (an inscribed stone inside suggests this may have been added in 1900 in memory of William and Charles Brown) with double doors with a frieze of blind lancets behind (two with windows), and three tall pointed lancets above. A little polychromy by the additional of stone details. Tall buttresses finishing in stone pinnacles rise above the eaves either side of the porch, and either side of the aisles. Each aisle pierced by a set of two-light windows with Perspex protecting the glass. An additional door in the extension to the north side.
Building Fabric and Features
Porch
20th century
Aisle
20th century south
Spire
20th century
Nave
19th century
Chancel
19th century apsidal
Baptistery
19th century
Building Materials
Brick
19th century
Slate
19th century roofs
Timber
19th century roof structure
Painted Plaster
19th century interior
Interior
Interior Description
The interior is adorned with detail, pattern, colour and woodwork. The west doors open into a glazed wood lobby rising a couple of steps from where there is level access into the nave. Wooden columns with attached shafts form the nave arcades (with brick arches to the later south aisle) rising up into arch-braces.
The nave has been reordered and the floor was covered in red carpet in 2007 (no indication of the original floor finish) with only the metal grilles still revealed. Some pews have been removed from the east end whilst others, on level wood boarded platforms are unfixed, but still numbered. Those in the aisles have been reorientated at an angle away from the wall. Additional seating is provided by wood-framed upholstered red chairs. Original branched brass light fittings remain suspended from the ceiling.
The walls are painted and stencilled in Art Nouveau style with trees, leafless in the nave, in bud in the chancel and flowering in the apse. Panelling rises to dado height. Text is painted around the building eaves level and is inscribed and gilded into the ‘chancel arch’ (the easternmost principle truss). Within the south aisle is the St Giles chapel, created in 1930. A baptistery is located in the base of the south-west turret.
An ornate blue and gold ironwork screen divides the nave from the chancel, and the floor is raised by a shallow step. Oak choir stalls face each other on either side. The altar is raised by a further two. The organ is positioned to the north side and the east end is characterised by oak panelling. That to the south bares the names of lives lost, and an oak screen with curtains provides an opening into a vestry area. IHS is stencilled above the three-light east window.
At the west end is a tiered balcony above the lobby supported on wooden columns. An empty crypt space beneath the east end previously used for youth groups etc. It, and a stairway on the north side, are all that remain of the original church.
A modern link containing a WC leads through to the hall with offices above.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
19th century Main altar, oak table brought forward from east wall. Chapel altar, oak with central panel with raised figures and carved figures to side.
Pulpit
19th century Octagonal, oak with carved figures (St Paul, St Philip, St Peter, St Stephen, St James and Christ) beneath traceried canopies. Raised on base formed of 8 oak columns with trefoils between them. 1876. Used for storage. Originally positioned on north side.
Lectern
19th century Brass eagle inscribed in memory of John Robert WIlliams, d. 1888
Font (component)
19th century Octagonal stone, 1876, with marble columns. Wooden crown-like cover. Lead-lined bowl.
Screen
20th century Ornate wrought-iron screen, blue and gold, designed by Douglas, 1900.
Reredos
20th century Oak, war memorial, 1920. Gesso panels with central figure of Christ by Henry Gustave Hiller.
Pew (component)
19th century In nave, numbers still on show.
Stall
20th century Choir stalls, 1937.
Rail
20th century Oak with open tracery, inscribed in memory of James Robert Fuller, former vicar, 1928.
Organ (component)
19th century Three manual pipe, Messrs James J Binns of Leeds.
Inscribed Object
20th century Brass memorial tablets: • John Douglas, 1911 [the architect!] • Sister Bessibe Black, 1917 • Nessie Brown, 1905 • John Jones, 1909 • Frederick Weekes, 1908 • John Thompson, 1908 • Annie Evans, 1911 • Albert Edward Ward, 1923 • Katherine Churton (?) 1972 Greek style marble tablet to John Price on west wall, mounted on black ground. Relocated from old church. D.1845.
Stained Glass
19th / 20th century • East window – figures of Anna, St Paul, St Elizabeth above scenes of the Annunciation, Nativity and Magi. Designed by Burne-Jones for Morris & Co, 1881. Not original designs to the church, but high quality examples of their work and in good condition (works of this date by the company have often deteriorated). • South-east / vestry – 4 lights. Angel with Psaltery and Angel with Lute 1881, Angel with flute and Angel with harp, 1887. Designed by William Morris. In memory of Richard Vyvyan (?) d.1880. Significance as above. • South aisle, east –Dove above, 2 angels with lutes, in main windows St Martha, Salvator Mundi and St Mary. Designed by Burne-Jones for Morris & Co. 1899 in memory of Henry Churton, Country Coroner 1898. • South aisle, south wall, easternmost – 5 light window featuring 4 male figures including Christ and a female figure. Angels above. In memory William and Emily Churton, erected 1925. Mostly designed by Henry Dearle. • South aisle, centre – 5 light window featuring St George, Ruth, Virgin and Child, Phoebe and St Luke with angels above. Designed by Dearle & Burne-Jones 1927. • South aisle, westernmost – 5 light window featuring Isaac, Samuel, Jesus, St John, Timothy all as children. Angels above. Designed by Dearle & Burne-Jones, 1927. • Baptistery, south wall – 2-light window featuring the conversion of St Paul and Baptism of the Jailor. Two angels in grisaille above. By Edward Reginald Frampton (1845-1928) of London (former pupil of Messrs Clayton and Bell). • Baptistery – separate lights on each facet - Christ teaching Nicodemus, Baptism of Jesus, Christ Blessing Children, Philp and Ethiopian by Frampton. • West wall, south aisle – two-lights depict Almsgiving – artist not known, in memory of Maria Elizabeth Webb Kind d.1920, attributed to Shrigley and Hunt by Dr Neil Moat. • West wall, north aisle – Saints Anne and Child Mary, and Saints Anne, Virgin Mary and Child Jesus – artist not known – the latter attributed to Shrigley and Hunt by Dr Neil Moat. • North wall – west – 3 lights - St Oswald, St John the Baptist, St Edmund, in memory of Leeming (?) d.1898, by Kempe. • North wall – east – 3 lights - St Anne, Virgin and Child, St Martha by Kempe. • 2 lights – behind organ - St George and dragon and St Michael by Shrigley and Hunt (of Lancaster and London) (previously attributed to Kempe but there is a makers mark) in memory of Robert Gordon Kind killed in France 1917.
Clock
20th century Messrs Joyce, Whitchurch, Shropshire, 1906. 2 dials.
Historical Notes
1946 - 1946
Period Qualifier: 2
Clock
20th Century made by JohnSmith & Sons from Derby
Historical Notes
1946 - 1946
Period Qualifier: 2
Portable Furnishings and Artworks
Registers date from 1874.
Churchyard
Grid reference: SJ 418 664
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
Sources
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