Bell 1 of 1
Founded by John Taylor & Co
Dove Bell ID: 56582 Tower ID: 21553 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
North Evington: St Stephen
Overview
Grid reference: SK 607 44
A large Victorian Gothic town church of red brick, its west end set on the junction of St Saviour’s and East Park Road in the North Evington eastern suburb of Leicester. The church was built to serve housing estates and factories laid out in the late 19th century designed by the Leicester architect Arthur Wakerley. It was begun with the nave in 1897 - the chancel extended in 1903 - to a design by Stockdale Harrison, a well-known local architect responsible for many secular buildings in Leicester. It is designed in a very sober Early English style, dominated by the use of pointed lancets. There are no aisles and the roofs sweep straight down.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
8-bay nave with shallow square west baptistery, 3-bay chancel, north organ chamber and vestry, north porches off the east and west ends of the nave.
Dimensions:
Nave c 25m (85 ft) x 12m (41ft), chancel 9m (30ft) long.
Description of Archaeology and History
Leicester was the Roman city Ratae Coritanorum, but this church is in the eastern part of the modern city which developed in the late 19th century, well outside the Roman and later Medieval town. However, immediately east of East Park Road and either side of Gwendolen Road just to the south is the site of a substantial moated platform. The moat is likely to have enclosed a manor house or similar building from the 13th or 14th century. There are also records of a small number of prehistoric flint artefacts found in the area, including Neolithic and Early Bronze Age arrowheads. Archaeological evidence from these or other periods is possible, and the Historic Environment Record should be consulted if any development of the site is contemplated.
The church was built to serve housing estates and factories laid out in the late 19th century designed by the Leicester architect Arthur Wakerley. It was begun with the nave in 1897 - the chancel extended in 1903 - to a design by Stockdale Harrison, a well-known local architect responsible for many secular buildings in Leicester. It is unchanged since externally, with some reordering within.
Exterior Description
This is a large, very typical late Victorian town church, impressing through its solidity and size rather than architectural flair. It is designed in a very sober Early English style, dominated by the use of pointed lancets. There are no aisles and the roofs sweep straight down.
The west façade facing East Park Road is quite plain, pierced by a 5-light lancet window. There is a lean-to protrusion under the window which houses the baptistery, with three single lancets. Dedication stone of 1897. The nave side walls have pairs of lancets to each bay. The two-storey double-gabled organ chamber on the north side breaks the monotony with groups of three lancets to each compartment and storey, and a 3-light east window of stepped lancets to the chancel. The gabled porches have pointed doorways.
Building Fabric and Features
Nave
19th Century 8 bay nave
Baptistery
19th Century Shallow square west baptistery
Chancel
19th Century 3 bay chancel
Porch
19th Century North porches off the east and west ends of the nave.
Vestry
19th Century
Building Materials
Timber
19th Century Timber roof
Brick
19th Century Red brick with timber roofs covered in slate.
Slate
19th Century Red brick with timber roofs covered in slate.
Interior
Interior Description
Internally the unusually broad nave provides a cavernous hall-like space under a vast arch-braced roof taken down the walls. There are glazed wooden draught lobbies to the porches, the bapistery is contained within a depressed brick arch. The nave walls have exposed brick to a dado, whitewashed above. Open-backed chairs throughout, a nave altar has been introduced; High Church furnishings.
Unbroken view to the High Altar through plain pointed chancel arch with painted rood, the organ pipes are displayed in an arch adjacent, its partner to the south is blocked. There is a Lady Chapel here. A door off the chancel leads to the vestry and stairs lead up to the console in the upper storey of the organ chamber. The nave floor is of woodblock, stone steps to the chancel and chequerboard stone floor, with more woodblock strips to the sides where the choir stalls presumably were.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
20th Century Oak table, Nave and Lady Chapel altar modern tables.
Pulpit
20th Century Hexagonal oak with blind tracery and moulded cornice on stone base integral to the chancel arch north side.
Lectern
20th Century Brass eagle, large.
Font (component)
20th Century Stone font with broad round bowl.
Stained Glass (window)
20th Century East window with Christ in Glory in central light given by Ann Brewster who died 1908, flanked by two sentimental 1960’s windows with Virgin Mary and St John. Nothing exceptional.
Plaque (object)
20th Century Several 20th-century brass plaques.
Organ (component)
19th Century to 20th Century 2-manual organ 1868 by J Porritt for St Luke’s church, restored 1890 and again in 1947 by Porritt & Son. Rebuilt 1974 by Ken Cant. Danemann of London piano.
Altar Rail
20th Century Oak, traceried standards, modern also.
Reredos
20th Century Triptych to the Lady Chapel, copy of Old Master.
Bells
Portable Furnishings and Artworks
Registers from 1897.
Reproduction of oil painting of Virgin & Child
Bishop's chair
Churchyard
Grid reference: SK 607 44
Burial and War Grave Information
The church/building is consecrated.
The churchyard has been used for burial.
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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