Lewisham: St Swithun, Hither Green
Diocese of Southwark
Church, 637254
http://www.saintswithuns.org.ukThis church is on the Heritage at Risk Register (verified 2025-11-06)
View more information about this church on the Heritage at Risk website
Overview
Grid reference: TQ 385 744
The church is composed of red Wrotham bricks laid consistently in fine English bond with window dressings of Bath stone. The roof, which runs in an unbroken line from west to east is covered with dull green slates.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Narthex formed from the west end of the nave, nave, aisles, transepts, chancel and south chapel. Vestries are situated below the south-east end to communicate with the hall. The vicarage stands away to the south west of the nave. Neither the bell-turret over the chancel nor the attached western portico-narthex were constructed.
Footprint of Church buildings: 713 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
The foundation stone of the mission church was laid in 1884 and this building was completed to the design of Ernest Newton in the same year. It subsequently became the parish hall to the east of the permanent church. In 1886, the Lewisham Church Extension Association was formed with the intention of building churches to replace the missions of St. Lawrence, Catford; St. Cyprian, Brockley and St. Swithun. Two years later, a scheme for the constitution of St. Swithun's parish was approved. The foundationstone of the church was laid in 1892 and the completed work was consecrated the next year. The chancel was added in 1904-5. The first stage cost £6,252 and a further £5,000 was required for the eastern bays. The builders were Messrs. Maides and Harper of Croydon assisted by S.C.Parmenter.
Exterior Description
The church is composed of red Wrotham bricks laid consistently in fine English bond with window dressings of Bath stone. The roof, which runs in an unbroken line from west to east is covered with dull green slates.
The eight-light west window is divided into three compartments and the central pair of lights is bounded by two mullions which extend to the haunch of the arch. The tracery is Decorated and composed of a variety of cusped quatrefoils. The west front is gabled and surmounted by a cross. Below the window is a tripartite rectangular opening which lights the gallery stair. The west end of the nave is terminated by stepped buttresses towards the west. All the buttress weatherings are of Portland stone.
The south aisle is altogether more prominent than the north; being open to greater view, it is more elaborately detailed and set under a separate gable, whilst the north aisle is provided with a lean-to roof and contains three smaller three-light windows with cusped ogee-headed lights. Its west window is of three-lights with Decorated tracery, whereas the west window of the south aisle is of four tall lights with more elaborate tracery which includes a Y and anticipates the grandeur of the east window.
The north side possesses brick buttresses and the north transept, which is lit only by a moulded rectangular window of four lights set low in the wall, is supported by a pair of buttresses. The north side of the chancel is broken only by a window of three ogee-headed lights placed very high in the wall.
The east wall of the chancel is finished by two stepped buttresses towards the east and a gable cross. It is broken by a window of eight lights to balance the lighting at the west end, but here the window is divided into two compartments by a thick mullion which bifurcates to provide the shape of two traceried windows and a dagger. The east window of the south chapel, which extends to the level of the chancel, is pierced by a four-light window which balances that at the west end of the aisle.
At the junction of the chancel and south transept is a buttressed brick chimney. The south transeptis supported by stepped angle buttresses but its most conspicuous feature is the tall south window of four lights divided by a transom into two compartments, and by a bifurcating mullion into two vertical sections. The fenestration of the south aisle is particularly reminiscent of Lincolnshire Decorated tracery windows e.g. at Grantham, and the three four-light windows on this side are a careful essay in different varieties of this style.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
1895
At the east end of the south aisle is a memorial window of 1895 depicting the Annunciationflanked by two scenes in architecturalframes, and the window at the west end of the north aisae was moved from the mission church, where it had been installed in 1886 at a cost of £100. It appears to have been reduced in size at the time of the move. It shows the Ascension in vivid reds and blues.
Interior
Interior Description
The nave is arvaded in three bays with, octagonal piers, capitals and bases. The responds are of smaller dimensions than the piers and the arches are hoodmoulded. The interior is well lit and spacious and the nave is broad and short. A triforium of two two-light windows with trefoiled heads within a segmental-headed embrasure to each bay rests on a string course.
Each pair of clerestory lights is centred over the crown of the arches and the line of the roof tiles is continued down to the capitals by means of fillets which indicate the bay divisions of both arcade and clerestory. A west gallery is accessible by way of two doorways in the west wall, one straight headed and the other round headed. It is terminated by a wooden boarded front. Below the gallery is the screened narthex. The chancel arch rests on a cluster of one demi and two quarter shafts with moulded capitals and bases. Below this, the lowest of the three sanctuary steps was eliminated when the chancel was extended in 1904. This has accentuated the incline of the floors at this -point to both the east and west.
The roof types are carefully selected to complement the different spaces which they cover. Nave and chancel are fitted with boarded wagon roofs, the south aisle roof is similar but keeled and the north aisle has a lean-to roof. The north transept roof is a boarded wagon roof canted at the north, whilst, the south transept has a similar roof on a north-south axis but is polygonal. The nave and chancel are fortified by king-posts and tie-beams which are supplementedby iron ties.
The chancel tapers markedly towards the east in order to accommodate the vestry stair but also to direct atgntion towards the reredos. The arches from the transepts to the chancel rest on responds composed of demi-shafts decorated with a fillet. The arch communicating the south transept and the chapel is double chamferedand unmoulded without capitals. It is a larger version of the arch leading from the north aisle to the organ chamber.
Fixtures and fittings
Reredos
1911
By far the most important fitting of the church, it fills the whole of the chancel east wall for which it was specially constructed. It was carved by Messrs. de Wispelaere of Bruges and erected in 1911 at a cost of £850. The occupation of Belgium prevented the figures of Saints from being shipped to England until 1919. It is larger and more distinguished than the Wispelaere reredos of 1907 in St. Augustine's, Grove Park. It is of three stages and the upper stage is divided into three compartments. The top stage is terminated by elaborate canopied figure niches and the central bay is raised above a carving of the Crucifixion with two attendant figures and topped by pinnacles. The central bay of the middle tier is a copy of Da Vinci's 'Last Supper' with sensitive figure rarving under a carved ogee arch. Elsewhere, the two upper tiers are divided into panels for the series of superb carved figures of Saints, one drawn in likeness of the second vicar. All the figures stand beneath cusped ogee-headed canopies. The east wall above the reredos is stencilled with patterns which rise above the elaborate cresting of the woodwork. The stencil work was executed by Mr. Barrett, art master at Goldsmiths College, New Cross.
Font (object)
A marble bowl on a circular stem surrounded by four shafts rests on a stone base. It is without ornamentation as it was left unfinished.
Pulpit
1906
Of wood, square, with figures in openwork canopied niches at the angles. On the western face is a carving of Christ and the sheep beneath an ogee-headed canopy. The work of Messrs. Wispelaere of Bruges.
Pew (object)
Plain pine pews.
Stall
1906
Elaborate poppy-headed choir stalls. The work of Messrs. Wispelaere of Bruges.
Organ (object)
The large organ by Willis, purchased from Blenheim Palace, was rebuilt by Willis in 1955. It is a two-manual instrument.
Churchyard
Grid reference: TQ 385 744
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
Sources
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