St. Augustine's is a relatively modern church serving the parish of Thorpe Bay.
The church as we see it today is the second church building in the area that came to be known as Thorpe Bay. The first was built in 1913 in wood and iron, and stood where the church hall now stands (2 minute's walk away on the corner of Johnstone Road and Parkanaur Road). The parish itself was formed in 1921 out of the mother parish of Holy Trinity Southchurch, and was dedicated to St Augustine of Canterbury (the Archbishop of Canterbury being the patron of the living of Southchurch).
As the development of the area continued at pace between the wars, it became clear that the plans for a permanent church that had been shelved during the First World War should now be pursued. By the mid 1920’s H W Allardyce of Barking was appointed the architect, with Sir Charles Nicholson as consultant. While Nicholson’s work is well-known, Allardyce is an obscure figure, and it is likely that St Augustine’s was his only ecclesiastical commission.
A variety of designs were produced, but the need to match the building to the budget available and the desire to see a church erected without undue further delay meant that a relatively simple design in brick with stone dressings was adopted. The aisles were built so that when funds allowed they could be widened, and a chapel on the south side of the chancel added - these have yet to be done. What is striking to the casual visitor is the sense of space, the magnificent stained glass window in the east wall, and its lofty height. A closer examination of the fittings, most of which date from the 1930’s and 40’s, shows the high quality of workmanship.
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You are looking for a small clip & lock container suitable for trackables and swaps.
Plenty of on-street car parking is available around the church or in nearby roads, however please check signs for applicable restrictions.
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