Nominal: 891.5 Hz Weight: 1008 lbs Diameter: 38" Bell 1 of 1
Founded by John Warner & Sons 1871
Dove Bell ID: 58553 Tower ID: 22648 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
St Stephen Paddington
Overview
Grid reference: TQ 253 814
Built, in common with many 19th century London churches, of Kentish ragstone facings with decorative detailing in Bath stone. Formerly the church had a fine spire, taken down in the early 1950s, but the tower is still tall (now with four corner pinnacles) and a prominent landmark among the brick and stucco terraces of the parish. The style is late 13th century and the only major additions have been the making of the chancel east end apsidal in 1900 and, at the same time, the provision of a choir vestry south of the south transept.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
West tower, nave with north and south aisles, north and south transepts, short apsidal chancel with an organ chamber on the north and a small chapel on the south: vestry beyond the south chapel, and a choir vestry beyond the south transept, north porch.
Footprint of Church buildings: 961 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
F. and H. Francis, 1855.6. (The founder was the Revd.Harvey William Brooks who gave the money to complete it and became the first incumbent).
Exterior Description
Built, in common with many 19th century London churches, of Kentish ragstone facings with decorative detailing in Bath stone. Formerly the church had a fine spire, taken down in the early 1950s, but the tower is still tall (now with four corner pinnacles) and a prominent landmark among the brick and stucco terraces of the parish. The style is late 13th century and the only major additions have been the making of the chancel east end apsidal in 1900 and, at the same time, the provision of a choir vestry south of the south transept.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
The church contains a large quantity of stained glass in bright reds and blues, greens and golds in the large west window, transept windows and virtually all the aisle windows. Some of it is by Gibbs, including one erected by the architects. In memory of their mother, and although generally poor in quality it has an attractive naivety and a certain period charm. The glass in the fine apse windows is better, and later, with saints beneath elaborate canopies in the Kempe manner.
Interior
Interior Description
The nave is long - four bays, with a further and taller bay at the crossing and a half-bay at the west - but the really remarkable feature is its great height. There is also an uncommonly deep and spacious west gallery (with a parish hall recently formed beneath) and the characteristically High Victorian progression in height from nave to chancel, chancel to sanctuary, and sanctuary to altar. The west wall has a triple arcade, of three blank arches, high up above the tower arch. Very tall arcades, with roll-moulded capitals. These, and the chancel arch with its inner order supported by angels with scrolls, are of stone. The walls are plastered and whitened. Chancel and apse have a wooden ceiling painted blue and white and the pairs of sedilia flanking the altar have playful ogival hood-mouldings in plaster.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
1900
Traceried and painted panels
Font (object)
An inscription records that it was given in memory of Harvey William Brooks, d.1882, 'founder and first Vicar of this church'. The font itself is of stone and alabaster, with carved figures in niches in alternate panels.
Pulpit
Iron to match the chancel screen, with elaborately carved wooden canopy above.
Pew (object)
Plain pitch pine
Lectern
Brass eagle
Organ (object)
Three manual by William Hill, Norman & Beard
Rail
Brass, with a wooden rail
Stall
c.1880
Very solid choir stalls, with traceried fronts
Reredos
A fairly elaborate piece, with a centre tabernacle containing a large and heavy brass cross and four flanking panels, of angels playing musical instruments.
Painting
In the north transept is a large framed painting, in oils on canvas, which appears to represent the Blessed Vigin and Child with St. Joseph
Bells
Churchyard
Grid reference: TQ 253 814
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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