Nominal: 1264 Hz Weight: 396 lbs Diameter: 25.93" Bell 1 of 1
Founded by Gillett & Johnston 1929
Dove Bell ID: 60793 Tower ID: 23906 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Surbiton Hill: Christ Church
Diocese of Southwark
Church, 637147
http://www.ccsurbiton.orgOverview
Grid reference: TQ 189 670
Red brick, with patterns of blue and black brick. The dressings are of stone, and the roofs are tiled. The west front of the church is its most notable external feature, a watered-down version of tough designs favoured by architects such as Burges and Teulon.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Aisled nave with south porch. No tower but a small bell-cote on the east nave gable. Chancel with north and south gabled aisles, the north used as a Quiet Room, and the south as a vestry.
Footprint of Church buildings: 981 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
By C.L. Luck, 1862-3, who also built the nearby church of St. Matthew ten years later to a much grander design church was lengthened (presumably westwards) in 1866, and the gabled chancel aisles were added in 1864 (north) and 1871 (south). W. Gilbee Scott modified the chancel to accomodate the organ.
Exterior Description
Red brick, with patterns of blue and black brick. The dressings are of stone, and the roofs are tiled. The west front of the church is its most notable external feature, a watered-down version of tough designs favoured by architects such as Burges and Teulon.
Much use is made of the contrast of brick with stone, and there is also some banding in coloured brick. The nave wall is in three stages the lowest an arcade almost entirely of stone with (unexpectedly) three round arches each side of the door. The door itself has two nook-shafts each side and strongly drawn iron work of remarkable geometrical simplicity.
The next level has two pairs of windows separated by a slightly wider blind arch. Between the windows are colonettes and they are outlined in brick. Above a plain stringcourse is a large rosed window with tracery entirely of circles, eight large and eight small round a big central one. The buttresses which flank the wall and distinguish nave from aisles terminate in stumpy stone pinnacles echoed by a similar pair at the camers of the aisle. The aisle walls each have one-light windows.
The south and north aisle walls have single lancet lights at equal intervals save in the east and west bays where there are three lancets together. There seems to be no very good reason for this, as there is also no apparent reason for the spacing of the big round windows which form the clerestory lights. These are outlined with black brick stripes. The east bell-cote is small and undistinguished.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
North aisle. Three lights - the wise and foolish virgins: the outer two lights have predominantly dark colours for the Virgins while the Bridegroom appearing in the centre light is emphasised by light colours.
Stained Glass
1864
North aisle. Christ and Mary Magdalene in the garden. 1864. Vivid colours, especially the purple.
Stained Glass
1872
North aisle. Christ the Good Shepherd.
Stained Glass
1874
North aisle. Christ with Martha and Mary.
Stained Glass
1876
North aisle. Christ calling Andrew and Peter by Galilee.
Stained Glass
North aisle. St. Anne.
Stained Glass
North aisle. Three lights at the west end of the aisle, a very Pre-Raphaelitish design representing an Old Testament Prophet, the Annunciation and St. John the Baptist.
Stained Glass
North aisle. The west window of the aisle. To Charles Burgess Fyfe, drowned in the River Spey in 1873. Two scenes from the Life of Moses - the child in the bulrushes and the crossing of the Red Sea.
Stained Glass
West Wall. The prophets Isaiah, Ezekiel, Jeremiah and King David.
Stained Glass
South aisle. Three lights in memory of the first Vicar, representing Christ Preaching
Stained Glass
1866
South aisle. Christ in Gethsemane
Stained Glass
1866
South aisle. Christ in the Temple with the Doctors
Stained Glass
South aisle. Angel appearing to Joseph in a dream. An unusual window. A roundel above, to which the angel points, indicates the slaughter of the Innocents.
Stained Glass
South aisle. Three lights showing the story of the Sacrifice of Isaac - the angel appearing to Abraham; the journey, the angel intervenes.
Stained Glass
1873
South aisle. The west window of the aisle has two scenes Jacob's Dream and Jacob Blessing the Sons of Joseph.
Stained Glass
1863
The north chancel chapel. East window: three lights the central one having three scenes Presentation in the Temple, Christ healing Jairus' daughter and The Ascension In the flanking lights are the Nativity and Christ Healing on the left and Christ disputing with the Doctors and Suffer the little Children on the right. In the tracery lights are Christ the Sower and Christ the Good Shepherd. The colours are bright and the drawing of the faces quite Pre-Raphaelito. Given in 1863 in memory of various children. Probably by Clayton and Bell.
Stained Glass
The north wall has a window of one light Christ in Joseph's workshop and, above, Christ with the Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, St. Elizabeth, St. Zacharias and the infant St. John.
Stained Glass
c. 1870
The east window is by Clayton and Bell, and has scenes from the life of Christ The Last Supper, the Crucifixion and The Risen Christ (reading the centre light from the lowest upwards) flanked by Christ with Mary and Martha with the Woman touching Christ's garments above on the left and The Angel and Maries at the Tomb with She hath done what she could above on the right.
Stained Glass
The east window of the south vestry has three lights from left to right Christ with Mary Magdalene, The Risen Christ and The Supper at Emmaus. Above, spanning all three lights is The Ascension.
Interior
Interior Description
The interior of the church is again characterised by the tough quality of the design here continued with a wealth of over-elaborate painted decoration. The colouring is varied the patterned walls competing with the painted roof timbers, and also with the stained glass with which every window is filled. The basic architectural form of the building, however, is powerful and simple in outline. The pointed arches of the arcade are particularly wide and high leaving little space for the clerestory above. These arches and the arches over all the windows are banded with black bricks, and an odd feature which is rather unsettling is that, as was also evident outside, the bays of the clerestory do not run in step with those of the arcade below the corbels bearing the roof timbers are in fact above the apices of some arches.
The corbels carrying the roof are extraordinary funnel-like stones carved with exceedingly stylized foliage (almost unrecognisable as such) and painted. The piers of the nave arcade are of smooth stone, and the bases and capitals (of square Early English type) have been painted an orange-brown colour to resemble stone.
The nave roof is carried on angular brackets which support straight cross beams. Upon these stand pointed arches flanked by half arches which take the strain of the principal rafters. The whole roof is ornamented with painted decoration of repetitious lavishness. The panelled roof is diapered with rosettes and other patterns.
The chancel arch is carried on chamfered brick responds with carved foliage capitals, and the space appears cramped because of the intrustion of two large organ cases above the overhang on both sides. This, however, does not interrupt the east windows from view; the three lancets, although treated as separate features outside, are linked within by arches which rest on attached marble colonettes each side and between the lights. The top of each light is trefoiled. Below a cornice the lower part of the wall is painted with a minutely detailed reredos.
Fixtures and fittings
Organ (object)
The Organ is a large instrument in several parts, one each side of the chancel and more to be found at the far side of the south vestry. Built in 1905, it has three manuals and pedals comprising a total of thirty-three speaking stops.
Pulpit
The Pulpit is of limestone with small marble colonettes and diapering within panels.
Lectern
1872
The Lectern is a fine brass eagle.
Font (object)
The font has a square bowl on a short circular drum.
Font (component)
The cover is of oak, with vigorous ironwork.
Bells
Churchyard
Grid reference: TQ 189 670
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
Quinquennial Inspections
Submit a change
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