St Barnabas church, St Barnabas Road, London E17 8JZ
The church of St Barnabas Walthamstow is located among streets of modest Victorian terraced houses and owes its existence to the generosity of two philanthropists.
Houses in St Barnabas Road, Walthamstow, London, c.2015.
Houses in St Barnabas Road, Walthamstow, London, c.2015.
Houses in St Barnabas Road, Walthamstow, London, c.2015.
The location of St Barnabas Wlathamstow, London E17
The first, Henry Casey (c.1834-1914), was a merchant in the City of London and the owner of much of the local building land and freely gave the land on which the church is built. The second was Richard Foster (1822–1910), another wealthy City merchant, who paid not only for the construction of the church but also for the construction of the vicarage and the hall that is now named after him.
Stafford Hall, London E17. (Source: Wikimedia)
The first church buidling was a temporary corrugated-iron building that was set up in 1900 as a chapel of ease within the parish of St Saviour Walthamstow pending the creation of the separate parish of St Barnabas. That iron buidling is still in situ and in use as a community centre called Stafford Hall.
W. D. Caröe (1857–1938). (Source: Wikimedia Commons).
By 1901 the separate parish of St Barnabas Walthamstow had been created, the advowson of the vicarage being vested in the diocesan bishop. The present church was opened in 1903. The architect of the church, the vicarage and the hall was William Douglas Caröe [pr. Ka(r)oh] (1857–1938), son of a Danish diplomat based in the UK. It was the intention that the church should be “a typical specimen of a simple and not expensive place of worship suitable for erection in less wealthy outlying districts where funds are most difficult to come by.” (Saxby, 16-17) The building, which cost £20,000, is mostly of red brick with stone dressings, a small spired turret at the north-west corner and windows in a late-Gothic style.
The eastern end of St Barnabas church (1903) Walthamstow E17 . (Source: Wikimedia Commons)
St Barnabas Walthamstow (1903) London E17, church hall, interior, Caröe (1903)
St Barnabas Walthamstow (1903) London E17, interior looking east. (Source: Litten, 2003)
St Barnabas Walthamstow (1903) London E17, main sanctuary, containing work by The Society for the Advancement of Ecclesiastical Embrodiery (1903), Alex Miller of the Guild of Handicraft (1910); A. W. N. Pugin (c.1845), and Dart & Francis (1903). . Source: Litten, 2003,
St Barnabas church (1903), Walthamstow, London. The south-east entrance and Vicarage seen from St barnabas Road.
St Barnabas Walthamstow (1903) London E17, nave detail. (Source: Litten, 2003)
The church has a number of splendid fixtures and fittings many of which are not original to the church but contemporary with it and acquired in the closing decades of the twentieth century. A few are shown here:
St Barnabas Walthamstow (1903) London E17, oak rood (1921) designed by W. D. Caröe, carved by Nathaniel Hitch. (Source: Litten, 2003)
St Barnabas Walthamstow (1903) London E17, Lady Chapel altar reredos (1923) by Christopher Webb, from St John’s church Red Lion Square, London (demolished). Source: Litten, 2003
St Barnabas Walthamstow (1903) London E17, painted stature of St Barnabas (1946) by Faith-Craft Works. (Source: Litten, 2003)
St Barnabas Walthamstow (1903) London E17, copper candlesticks and cross, (c.1905), by the Guild of Handicrafts. Source: Litten, 2003.
St Barnabas Walthamstow (1903) London E17, Purbeck-stone font, unknown maker. (Source: Litten, 2003)
St Barnabas Walthamstow (1903) London E17. Chalice and patten by Edward Spencer, 1873-1938, (Artificers’ Guild), 1933. (Source: Litten, 2003)
St Barnabas Walthamstow (1903) London E17, altar frontal designed by Caröe (1903 by the Society for the Advancement of Ecclesiastical Embroidery. Source: Litten, 2003,
The organ
The two-manual organ (1904) by the company of Walter J. Fisher of Oxford is thought to incorporate work by Eustace Ingram of London (Litten, 13) and is located on the south side of the chancel at ground level even though Caröe, the church’s architect, has provided a first-storey gallery for it. The organ case is to the design of W. D. Caroe and was carved by Dent & Francis of Crediton, Devon (Litton 13; 20, fn.6), who worked on other oak fittings in the church (Litten, 8).
Builder’s plate he organ built by Walter J. Fisher, Oxford, 1904, for the church of St Barnabas, Walthamstow, London,
Organ case – rear, looking east – of the organ built by Walter J. Fisher, Oxford, 1904 for the church of St Barnabas, Walthamstow, London
Console of the organ built by Walter J. Fisher, Oxford, 1904, for the church of St Barnabas, Walthamstow, London
The south-east side of the organ built by Walter J. Fisher, Oxford, 1904, for the church of St Barnabas, Walthamstow, London
The organ built by Walter J. Fisher, Oxford, 1904, for the church of St Barnabas, Walthamstow, London
Organ case – rear, looking west – of the organ built by Walter J. Fisher, Oxford, 1904, for the church of St Barnabas, Walthamstow, London
Power and light switches on the console of the organ built by Walter J. Fisher, Oxford, 1904, for the church of St Barnabas, Walthamstow, London
Pedal board of the organ built by Walter J. Fisher, Oxford, 1904, for the church of St Barnabas, Walthamstow, London
References
Anglican Church Building in Victorian Walthamstow by S. Saxby. Series: Monograph New Series No. 46. (London: Walthamstow Historical Society, 2014
‘Walthamstow: Churches‘, A Historyof the County of Essex. Volume 6. (London: Victoria County History, 1973), pp.285-294. Online reource, accessed 4 November 2017
‘Walthamstow, St Barnabas‘, The Church of England: a church near you. Online resource accessed 4 November 20-17
‘W. D. Caröe‘, Wikipedia. Online resource, accessed 4 November 2017
The parish of St Aldhelm in Edmonton, north London is a modest late-c19/early-c20 residential area of terraced streets with a rather fine church.
‘William Douglas (‘W.D.’) Caröe’ by Lafayette (Lafayette Ltd) whole-plate film negative, 27 June 1930. [Source, National Portrait Gallery, London. Ref: NPG x70476]
Location of St Aldhelm’s church, Silver Street, London N18
The location of St Aldhelm’s church, London, N18 1PA
The church was built in 1903 to the designs of W. D. Caröe (1857–1938), and replaces an earlier temporary ‘tin tabernacle’ building. The present building is summed up as “a homely Arts and Crafts version of a basilican church, using free Perpendicular detail“. In 1907 a vicarage – also by Caröe – was built immediately north of the church. The halls date from 1883 and 1907-8; architect currently unknown. (Cherry & Pevsner, 63).
Detail of the Vicarage, St Aldhelm’s church, London N18, (1903), by W. D. Caröe
The south side (1903) of St Aldhelm’s church, London N18, by W. D. Caröe.
St Aldhelm’s church, London N18. Hall, vicarage and church.
The west fron (1903) of St Aldhelm’s church, London N18, by W. D. Caröe.
The seast end (1903) of St Aldhelm’s church, London N18, by W. D. Caröe.
Tne main hall (1908) at St Aldhelm’s church, London N18.
The first church of St Aldhelm, London N18, replaced 1903.
This well-maintained church building comprises a chancel, north organ chamber, vestries and a south chapel, aisled nave with west gallery and bell turret (2 bells). The lower half of each nave pillar is panelled and painted, originally dark green. (Cherry & Pevsner, 423).
St Aldhelm’s church, London N18, by W. D. Caröe (1903), the sanctuary. The reredos painting of the Ascension is by Walter Percival Starmer (1871–1961).
St Aldhelm’s church, London N18 (W. D. Caroe, 1903), panelled aisle pillars, 2017.
St Aldhelm’s church, London N18 (W. D. Caroe, 1903), view north-east, 2017.
St Aldhelm’s church, London N18, by W. D. Caröe (1903), looking west.
Under the west gallery of St Aldhem’s church, London N18 (W. D. Caroe, 1903) in 2017.
St Aldhelm’s church, London N18, by W. D. Caröe (1903), the sanctuary.
St Aldhelm’s church, London N18 (W. D. Caroe, 1903), looking west, 2017.
St Aldhelm’s church, London N18, by W. D. Caröe (1903), looking east.
The arrtist Walter Percival Starmer (1871–1961) was employed (1947-8) to provide additional decoration in memory of the parish dead of the Second World War, specifically a delicate scheme of stained glass and an imposing reredos painting of the Ascension. (Another ecclesiastical scheme by Starmer can be found at the church of St-Jude-on-the-Hill in Hampstead, London; stained glass and murals).
Stained glass (1947-8) by W. P Starmer (1871–1961) in the south aisle of St Aldhelm’s church, London N18, in 2017.
Stained glass (1947-8) by W. P Starmer (1871–1961) in the north aisle of St Aldhelm’s church, London N18, in 2017.
Stained glass (1947-8) by W. P Starmer (1871–1961) on the south side of the west wall of St Aldhelm’s church, London N18, in 2017.
Stained glass (1947-8) by W. P Starmer (1871–1961) in the Lady Chapel of St Aldhelm’s church, London N18, in 2017.
Stained glass (1947-8) by W. P Starmer (1871–1961) on the south side of the west wall of St Aldhelm’s church, London N18, in 2017.
Stained glass (1947-8) by W. P Starmer (1871–1961) in the south aisle of St Aldhelm’s church, London N18, in 2017.
Stained glass (1947-8) by W. P Starmer (1871–1961) in the north aisle of St Aldhelm’s church, London N18, in 2017.
Stained glass (1947-8) by W. P Starmer (1871–1961) in the north aisle of St Aldhelm’s church, London N18, in 2017.
Stained glass (1947-8) by W. P Starmer (1871–1961) in the south aisle of St Aldhelm’s church, London N18, in 2017.
Stained glass (1947-8) by W. P Starmer (1871–1961) in the north aisle of St Aldhelm’s church, London N18, in 2017.
‘The Ascension’, painting by W. P. Starmer ((1871–1961) above the main altar in the church of St Aldhelm, London N18 (W. D. Caroe, 1903), in 2017.
Stained glass (1947-8) by W. P Starmer (1871–1961) in the south aisle of St Aldhelm’s church, London N18, in 2017.
Stained glass (1947-8) by W. P Starmer (1871–1961) in the north aisle of St Aldhelm’s church, London N18, in 2017.
Stained glass (1947-8) by W. P Starmer (1871–1961) in the south aisle of St Aldhelm’s church, London N18, in 2017.
Stained glass (1947-8) by W. P Starmer (1871–1961) in the south aisle of St Aldhelm’s church, London N18, in 2017.
Each of the internal doors is made to its own design with distinctive metalwork … as these examples demonstrate
Internal south-east-entrance doors in 2017, St Aldhelm’s church, London N18 (W. D. Caroe, 1903).
Door from choir vestrey to nave, in 2017, St Aldhelm’s church, London N18 (W. D. Caroe, 1903)
Internal south-west-entrance doors in 2017, St Aldhelm’s church, London N18 (W. D. Caroe, 1903).
Door from choir vestrey to chancel, in 2017, St Aldhelm’s church (W. D. Caroe, 1903)
Door between choir and clergy vestries in 2017, St Aldhelm’s church, London N18 (W. D. Caroe, 1903)
Internal west=entrance doors in 2017, St Aldhelm’s church, London N18 (W. D. Caroe, 1903).
The pulpit by W. R. Dale (n.d.) came from the redundant (1951) London church of St Mary, Spital Square. (Cherry & Pevsner, 63). While the brass lectern seems generic of the period the font seems as if it might be part of Caröe ‘s design not least because of the metalwork on the font’s cover.
Pulpit by W. R. Dale at St Aldhelm’s church, London N18, originally in St Mary Spital, London E1, in 2017.
The font at St Aldhelm’s church, London N18 (W. D. Caroe, 1903) in 2017.
Detail of ironwork on the the font cover at St Aldhelm’s church, London N18 (W. D. Caroe, 1903), in 2017.
Lectern at St Aldhelm’s church, London N18, in 2017.
The cost of the new church and vicarage was paid for out of the £36,000 proceeds of the sale of St. Michael Bassishaw church in the City of London (by Christopher Wren, 1679, demolished 1900), a portion of which had already paid for the construction of the nearby church and vicarage of St Michael, Bury Street in Edmonton (also by Caröe, 1901), now converted to secular residential use.
‘St Michael Bassishaw’ by John Coney (1786-1833), engraved by Joseph Skelton (1783-1871) in “Architectura Ecclesiastica Londini; being a Series of Views” (London: J. Booth, 1812).
The former St Miichel’s church and vicarage, Bury Street, London N9, by W. D. Caröe (1901)
The pipe organ
The pipe organ in St Aldhelm’s was built and installed in 1905 by the short-lived north-London firm of Frederick Halliday (fl. 1905-13). Although an unremarkable instrument it is in good condition and quite adequate for accompanying the parish liturgy.
St Aldhelm’s church London N18; the pipe organ (1905) by Frederick Halliday, London.
St Aldhelm’s church London N18; the pipe organ (1905) by Frederick Halliday, London.
St Aldhelm’s church London N18; the pipe organ (1905) by Frederick Halliday, London.
St Aldhelm’s church London N18; the pipe organ (1905) by Frederick Halliday, London.
St Aldhelm’s church London N18; the pipe organ (1905) by Frederick Halliday, London.
St Aldhelm’s church London N18; the pipe organ (1905) by Frederick Halliday, London.
St Aldhelm’s church London N18; the pipe organ (1905) by Frederick Halliday, London.
St Aldhelm’s church London N18; the pipe organ (1905) by Frederick Halliday, London.
Sources
‘W. D. Caröe‘ in Wikipedia. Online resource, accessed 21 November 2017.
‘Edmonton: Churches’, in A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 5, ed. T F T Baker and R B Pugh (London, 1976), pp. 181-187. British History Online. Online resource accessed 21 November 2017.
‘Frederick Hallliday’ in Directory of British Organ Builders (British Institute of Organ Studies, 2017) Online resource, acccessed 21 November 2017.
‘St Aldhelm’ in The Buildings of England. London 4: North by B. Cherry and N. Pevsner (London: Tale University Press, 2002), p. 63; p. 423.
‘St Aldhelm, Silver Street‘ in The National Pipe Organ Register. Online resource, accessed 21 November 2017.
‘St Aldhelm Upper Edmonton‘ in A Church near You (Archbishop’s Council, 2017), Online resource, accessed 21 November 2017.
‘St Michael Bassishaw‘ in Wikipedia. Online resource, accessed 21 november 2017.
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