2ml tube
Stephen's Church, Gloucester Road
Church. 1866-7, designed by Joseph Peacock. Octagonal north-east vestry, passage behind east end and south-east chapel added by H R Gough 1887. Chancel recast 1903-8 by G F Bodley and Walter Tapper. Coursed Bargate stone (Yorkshire parpoints to 1887 additions), with Bath stone dressings. Slate roof. Transitional but eclectic Gothic style, with many individual features. Nave and lean-to aisles, double transepts broadening out of aisles, and further short transepts north and south of choir. North-west tower planned but not built. Tracery of unusual patterns throughout, with rose windows over long lancets in east end and choir transepts as well as over two very long windows at west end. Clerestory of irregular design. Deep entrance porch at west end of north aisle. Interior has nave of six bays with arcade of Pennant stone columns, Bath stone arches and polychromatic brick wall surfaces, all now painted. Timber roof to nave of braced Queen post type. Pews by Peacock. Chancel wholly recast by Bodley and Tapper. Tall reredos by Bodley with gilded wooden figures carved by Bridgeman of Lichfield; organ loft on north side, 1905-6; black and white marble paving by Bodley and Tapper; rood by Tapper, 1908. Also by Tapper, St Stephen's Chapel under organ, 1913. Equivalent chapel on north side by Sir Charles Nicholson, 1936. Font under west windows by Peacock, now surrounded by choir stalls by Tapper and with tall inter-war canopy. Stained glass of variable quality, but including good west windows by Mayer of Munich, 1881. Much in aisles by Lavers, Barraud and Westlake. One of the best remaining churches by the 'rogue' Victorian architect, Joseph Peacock; 'tamed by other hands' (Goodhart-Rendel) but with a richness of added interest rather than loss of effect.
Personal Note - I like to create CMs at churches with which I have a personal connection or memory. Being a choral singer, many of these may be to do with singing. As well as being a local church to me, I find it amazing that T.S Eliot was churchwarden here - small world!
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