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| St Saviour, Eltham |
I’ve been putting all the down-time during the lockdown while waiting for files to upload or transfer over the internet to good use! I have spent much of it looking through the two excellent volumes by Michael Yelton &; John Salmon ‘Anglican Church-Building in London’. Volume 1 covers the period 1915-1945 and the follow-up covers the period 1946-2012.
There are hundreds of churches listed with accompanying black and white photographs. All of them would make for excellent visits but for the purposes of this list I have tried to limit myself to my favourite twenty five – excluding those churches I know well (like St Paul’s Bow Common or John Keble, Mill Hill). The twenty five ‘new’ churches in the list are therefore both new in age (relatively speaking) and new to me. Once the lockdown is over it will be good to visit these fascinating buildings. Like the books, this list is organised alphabetically by borough and I have used images from a variety of sources and information from the excellent London Church Buildings website to find out more.
London Borough of Barking & Dagenham
St Alban, Becontree
A beautiful tower!
There are hundreds of churches listed with accompanying black and white photographs. All of them would make for excellent visits but for the purposes of this list I have tried to limit myself to my favourite twenty five – excluding those churches I know well (like St Paul’s Bow Common or John Keble, Mill Hill). The twenty five ‘new’ churches in the list are therefore both new in age (relatively speaking) and new to me. Once the lockdown is over it will be good to visit these fascinating buildings. Like the books, this list is organised alphabetically by borough and I have used images from a variety of sources and information from the excellent London Church Buildings website to find out more.
London Borough of Barking & Dagenham
St Alban, Becontree
A beautiful tower!
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| St Alban, Becontree |
Architect : Miler & Craze
Constructed : 1934
Images : Exterior by Barking Historical Society, interior by John Salmon
Further information : on the London Church Buildings website.
St Mary, Becontree
A fascinating art-deco interpretation of Gothic?
Constructed : 1934
Images : Exterior by Barking Historical Society, interior by John Salmon
Further information : on the London Church Buildings website.
St Mary, Becontree
A fascinating art-deco interpretation of Gothic?
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| St Mary, Becontree |
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| St Mary, Becontree |
Architect : Welch, Cachemaille-Day & Lander
Constructed : 1935
Images : John Salmon
Constructed : 1935
Images : John Salmon
Further information : on the London Church Buildings website.
London Borough of Barnet
St Matthias, Colindale
I like the modelling of the east façade and how this creates shafts of light within – like the stone of the tomb rolled away. This was the church of my old Archdeacon and I am very ashamed that I have never visited it!
St Matthias, Colindale
I like the modelling of the east façade and how this creates shafts of light within – like the stone of the tomb rolled away. This was the church of my old Archdeacon and I am very ashamed that I have never visited it!
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| St Matthias, Colindale |
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| St Matthias, Colindale |
Architect : R.W.Hurst
Constructed : 1973
Images : Exterior by John Salmon and interior from the church Facebook page.
Further information : on the London Church Buildings website
London Borough of Bexley
Constructed : 1973
Images : Exterior by John Salmon and interior from the church Facebook page.
Further information : on the London Church Buildings website
London Borough of Bexley
St Andrew, Sidcup
I like the octagonal design and it will be interesting to see how the building addresses the significant level change across the site. I love the triangular east façade and the fantastic colour of the interior.
I like the octagonal design and it will be interesting to see how the building addresses the significant level change across the site. I love the triangular east façade and the fantastic colour of the interior.
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| St Andrew, Sidcup |
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| St Andrew, Sidcup |
Architect : Braddock, Martin-Smith & Lipley
Constructed : 1964
Images : Exterior by Ethan Doyle White and interior by John Salmon
Further information : on the London Church Buildings website with a fascinating slide show of historic photographs, including the church under construction, here
Constructed : 1964
Images : Exterior by Ethan Doyle White and interior by John Salmon
Further information : on the London Church Buildings website with a fascinating slide show of historic photographs, including the church under construction, here
London Borough of Bromley
It looks like a futuristic Oast House! Wonderful perforated cross behind the altar, with chamfered windows to direct the light. I love the globular light fittings too!
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| St Barnabas, Clay Hill |
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| St Barnabas, Clay Hill |
Architect : E.F.Starling
Constructed : 1962-4
Images : Exterior by John Salmon and interior from the church website
Further information : on the London Church Buildings website, with a wonderful old film showing the construction of the church, here.
St Mark, Biggin Hill
“The Moving Church”. The ultimate eco-church – a recycled building! A church built in the late 1950’s that re-uses the roof and other fittings from a Victorian church in Peckham that was about to be demolished. The separate bell tower is interesting. Apparently the vicar who spearheaded the project designed many of the fixtures and fittings himself.
Constructed : 1962-4
Images : Exterior by John Salmon and interior from the church website
Further information : on the London Church Buildings website, with a wonderful old film showing the construction of the church, here.
St Mark, Biggin Hill
“The Moving Church”. The ultimate eco-church – a recycled building! A church built in the late 1950’s that re-uses the roof and other fittings from a Victorian church in Peckham that was about to be demolished. The separate bell tower is interesting. Apparently the vicar who spearheaded the project designed many of the fixtures and fittings himself.
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| St Mark, Biggin Hill |
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| St Mark, Biggin Hill |
Architect : R. Gilbert Scott
Constructed : 1957-9
Images : Exterior image from the Gilbert Scott website. Interior image from the church website.
Further information : on the London Church Buildings website and in this article.
London Borough of Ealing
Holy Cross, Greenford
A huge church that takes elements from the design of the church it replaced (which still stands next door, at right angles to the new building). “Anything you can do I can do better!”…
Images : Exterior image from the Gilbert Scott website. Interior image from the church website.
Further information : on the London Church Buildings website and in this article.
London Borough of Ealing
Holy Cross, Greenford
A huge church that takes elements from the design of the church it replaced (which still stands next door, at right angles to the new building). “Anything you can do I can do better!”…
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| Holy Cross, Greenford |
Constructed : 1939
Images :
Further information : on the London Church Buildings website.
St Joseph the Worker, Northolt
Raise the roof! I like the clerestory and the industrial feel. This church is much less well known than the architects’ other London church at St Paul Bow Common.
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| St Joseph the Worker, Northolt |
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| St Joseph the Worker, Northolt |
Constructed : 1967
Images : By John Salmon
Further information : on the London Church Buildings website.
St Mary, West Twyford
The slender, tapered columns in the nave are beautiful!
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| St Mary, West Twyford |
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| St Mary, West Twyford |
Architect : N.F.Cachemaille-Day
Constructed : 1958
Images : Exterior from the Modernism in Metroland website. Interior by John Salmon. Sketch perspective from the RIBA Collections website.
Further information : on the London Church Buildings website.
London Borough of Greewich
St Saviour, Eltham
This church reminds me of Grundtvig's Church in Copenhagen that we visited recently. Beautiful dark brick. What a fantastic building.
Constructed : 1958
Images : Exterior from the Modernism in Metroland website. Interior by John Salmon. Sketch perspective from the RIBA Collections website.
Further information : on the London Church Buildings website.
London Borough of Greewich
St Saviour, Eltham
This church reminds me of Grundtvig's Church in Copenhagen that we visited recently. Beautiful dark brick. What a fantastic building.
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| St Saviour, Eltham |
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| St Saviour, Eltham |
Architect : Welch, Cachemaille-Day & Lander
Constructed : 1932
Images : From Modernism in Metroland and Culture Trip websiteFurther information : on the London Church Buildings website. Perhaps not surprisingly the church features in this article in London’s best modern churches on the Culture Trip website.
London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham
St Etheldreda, Fulham
The tower reminds me of St Antony’s in Basel by Karl Moser, which I visited recently. I like the shape of the chancel arch too.
Constructed : 1932
Images : From Modernism in Metroland and Culture Trip websiteFurther information : on the London Church Buildings website. Perhaps not surprisingly the church features in this article in London’s best modern churches on the Culture Trip website.
London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham
St Etheldreda, Fulham
The tower reminds me of St Antony’s in Basel by Karl Moser, which I visited recently. I like the shape of the chancel arch too.
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| St Etheldreda, Fulham |
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| St Etheldreda, Fulham |
Constructed : 1955-8
Images : Exterior by Alexander Kapp, Interior by John Salmon
Further information : on the London Church Buildings website.
London Borough of Harrow
St Alban, North Harrow
I love the little half-moon ‘eyes’ at the top of the tower which also feature in the nave.
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| St Alban, North Harrow |
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| St Alban, North Harrow |
Constructed : 1936
Images : Exterior from the London Church Buildings website, interior by John Salmon
Further information : on the London Church Buildings website.
St Paul, South Harrow
This church looks slightly Russian to me. I think maybe it's the colour, which reminds me of the recent Russian Orthodox Cathedral in Paris?
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| St Paul, South Harrow |
Architect : N.F.Cachemaille-DayConstructed : 1937
Images : John Salmon
Further information : on the London Church Buildings website.
London Borough of Hillingdon
St Mary, South Ruislip
A really impressive sculpted crucifix built in to the west façade and beautiful lines to the interior. Although it seems nothing like it inside for some reason it reminds me of Notre Dame du Raincy by Auguste Perret.
Images : John Salmon
Further information : on the London Church Buildings website.
London Borough of Hillingdon
St Mary, South Ruislip
A really impressive sculpted crucifix built in to the west façade and beautiful lines to the interior. Although it seems nothing like it inside for some reason it reminds me of Notre Dame du Raincy by Auguste Perret.
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| St Mary, South Ruislip |
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| St Mary, South Ruislip |
Architect : Laurence King
Constructed : 1959
Images : Exterior from the church website, interior by Modernism in Metroland
Further information : on the London Church Buildings website.
London Borough of Hounslow
Constructed : 1959
Images : Exterior from the church website, interior by Modernism in Metroland
Further information : on the London Church Buildings website.
London Borough of Hounslow
All Saints, Hanworth
It has a touch of Gunnar Asplund’s Stockholm Library. A beautiful apse. What wonderful shapes.
It has a touch of Gunnar Asplund’s Stockholm Library. A beautiful apse. What wonderful shapes.
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| All Saints, Hanworth |
Architect : N.F.Cachemaille-Day
Constructed : 1952
Images : John Salmon
Further information : on the London Church Buildings website.
All Saints, Isleworth
A 1960’s building attached to a fifteenth century tower. Fascinating! I love how the windows raise the roof in the new building.
Constructed : 1952
Images : John Salmon
Further information : on the London Church Buildings website.
All Saints, Isleworth
A 1960’s building attached to a fifteenth century tower. Fascinating! I love how the windows raise the roof in the new building.
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| All Saints, Isleworth |
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| All Saints, Isleworth |
Architect : Michael Blee
Constructed : 1967-70
Images : John Salmon
Further information : on the London Church Buildings website.
Holy Trinity, Hounslow
I love the tapering tower with the perforated brickwork at the belfry and the cross ribbed ceiling to the nave.
Constructed : 1967-70
Images : John Salmon
Further information : on the London Church Buildings website.
Holy Trinity, Hounslow
I love the tapering tower with the perforated brickwork at the belfry and the cross ribbed ceiling to the nave.
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| Holy Trinity, Hounslow |
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| Holy Trinity, Hounslow |
Architect : W.E.Cross
Constructed : 1961
Images : Wikipedia (John Salmon)Further information : on the London Church Buildings website.
London Borough of Kingston on Thames
Emmanuel Church, Tolworth
A triangular church but with a barrel vault inside?!
Constructed : 1961
Images : Wikipedia (John Salmon)Further information : on the London Church Buildings website.
London Borough of Kingston on Thames
Emmanuel Church, Tolworth
A triangular church but with a barrel vault inside?!
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| Emmanuel Church, Tolworth |
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| Emmanuel, Tolworth |
Architect : Not known
Constructed : 1935
Images : John SalmonFurther information : on the London Church Buildings website.
London Borough of Lewisham
St Laurence, Catford
A fascinating octagonal church whose unusual roof has recently been repaired with a grant from the National Churches Trust.
Constructed : 1935
Images : John SalmonFurther information : on the London Church Buildings website.
London Borough of Lewisham
St Laurence, Catford
A fascinating octagonal church whose unusual roof has recently been repaired with a grant from the National Churches Trust.
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| St Laurence, Catford |
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| St Laurence, Catford |
Constructed : 1967-8
Images : Exterior by John Salmon, interior from the Culture Trip website.
Further information : on the London Church Buildings website.
London Borough of Newham
St John, North Woolwich
I love the cube of light. Such a simple interior. I couldn’t find any interior pictures on line so the black and white picture is from ‘Anglican Church-Building in London 1946-2012). The church shares the building with a Roman Catholic congregation.
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| St John, North Woolwich |
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| St John, North Woolwich |
Constructed : 1968
Images : Exterior by Chris Guy. Interior from Anglican Church-Building in London 1946-2012
Further information : on the London Church Buildings website.
London Borough of Richmond
St Philip and All Saints, Kew
Clear to see why this is known as the “Barn Church”!
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| The Barn Church, Kew |
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| The Barn Church, Kew |
Architect : Edward Swan
Constructed : 1929
Images :
Further information : on the London Church Buildings website. Great shots of the interior in this video on Vimeo.
London Borough of Southwark
St John Chrysostom, Peckham
The split pitch of the roof is fantastic and, judging by the photos, creates some wonderful internal light conditions – like the chink of light coming in to the empty tomb or the shaft of light that artists often use to depict the Holy Spirit, such as in paintings of the Annunciation. It looks like there is some wonderful stained glass too. I love the industrial looking tower structure too – a power station of faith here. In 2017 the street frontage was painted with a huge mural titled ‘Mary – Origin and Destination’ by street artist Giacomo Bufarini (who also goes by the name ‘RUN’).
Constructed : 1929
Images :
Further information : on the London Church Buildings website. Great shots of the interior in this video on Vimeo.
London Borough of Southwark
St John Chrysostom, Peckham
The split pitch of the roof is fantastic and, judging by the photos, creates some wonderful internal light conditions – like the chink of light coming in to the empty tomb or the shaft of light that artists often use to depict the Holy Spirit, such as in paintings of the Annunciation. It looks like there is some wonderful stained glass too. I love the industrial looking tower structure too – a power station of faith here. In 2017 the street frontage was painted with a huge mural titled ‘Mary – Origin and Destination’ by street artist Giacomo Bufarini (who also goes by the name ‘RUN’).
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| St John Chrysostom, Peckham |
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| St John Chrysostom, Peckham |
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| St John Chrysostom, Peckham |
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| St John Chrysostom, Peckham |
Architect : David Bush
Constructed : 1965
Images : Exterior by John Salmon and the RIBA Archive, interior by Stephen Craven and the RIBA Archive. Mural picture from Time Out.
Constructed : 1965
Images : Exterior by John Salmon and the RIBA Archive, interior by Stephen Craven and the RIBA Archive. Mural picture from Time Out.
Further information : on the London Church Buildings website. Information about the new mural is in this Time Out article.
St Paul, Newington
I love the fantastic perforated façade – echoes of Le Corbusier at Ronchamp! Internally the roof design is very strong. Triangles both soaring up and coming down to earth.
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| St Paul, Newington |
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| St Paul, Newington |
Architect : Woodroffe, Buchanan & Coulter
Constructed : 1959-60
Images : Exterior from the Modern Church Architecture website, interior from the RIBA Archive and by Chris Guy
Constructed : 1959-60
Images : Exterior from the Modern Church Architecture website, interior from the RIBA Archive and by Chris Guy
Further information : on the London Church Buildings website.
London Borough of Waltham Forest
London Borough of Waltham Forest
All Saints, Leyton
A huge tent! I love the steeply pitched roof. Almost like a greenhouse – with faith growing inside!
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| All Saints, Leyton |
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| All Saints, Leyton |
Constructed : 1973
Images : John Salmon
Further information : on the London Church Buildings website.
London Borough of Westminster
St Saviour, Paddington
A soaring fibreglass spire. For some reason it reminds me of the sketches of the futurist architect Antonio Sant’Elia.
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| St Saviour, Paddington |
Architect : Biscoe & Stanton
Constructed : 1976
Images : By Jim Linwood. Not able to find an interior picture on the web!
Constructed : 1976
Images : By Jim Linwood. Not able to find an interior picture on the web!
Further information : on the London Church Buildings website.
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