Nominal: 1800.8 Hz Weight: 221 lbs Diameter: 20.5" Bell 1 of 1
Founded by John Taylor & Co 2023
Dove Bell ID: 63780 Tower ID: 22630 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Withernsea: St Matthew
Diocese of York
Church, 643342
http://www.southholdernesscoastalbenefice.co.ukOverview
Grid reference: TA 338 279
Withernsea St Matthew (formerly Owthorne St Matthew), is the parish church of Withernsea with Owthorne (the former parish church of Withernsea St Nicholas now being closed and in the care of the CCT).
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
3-bay nave with narrow north and south aisles. North and west porches. Chancel with south organ chamber and attached choir and clergy vestry, and WC. Heating chamber beneath vestry.
Dimensions:
[Approximate] Nave 15m (49ft) x 9m (30ft), aisles 1.5m (5ft) wide, chancel 10m (33ft) long.
Footprint of Church buildings: 361 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
A brick chapel of ease, dedicated to St Matthew, was built in the parish of Hollym with Withernsea on Waxholme Road (now Queen Street North) in 1857. The building was restored in 1883 and a chancel added in 1890. However a new church of St Matthew was built in 1934-5 on a different site, designed by Sir William Milner of London-based practice Milner and Craze who specialised in ecclesiastical work. The original building became a church hall, was sold in 1971 and has since been demolished.
The original vision for the new, red brick church was two bays longer than the completed building and also included a west tower. Money was left to complete the works, but was never executed. The site has little archaeological potential. There are no known ecological designations relating to the plot.
Exterior Description
St Matthew's is a modest red brick Arts and Crafts style building. Viewed from the north, the church has a continuous roof line with the nave, aisles and chancel under a single roof. The wall-plate rises in the chancel and again in the sanctuary, the cumulative effect of this change in level means that the east wall appears much taller than the west end which seems short in comparison.
The east elevation has a two-stage plinth and two-tier buttresses to either side. Three pointed lancet windows pierce the wall and a single light in the form of a crucifix fills the apex of the gable. A gabled vestry projects in the south-east corner and a chimney and bellcote break the rooflines promoting greater variation in the roof heights.
In the north and south elevations buttresses, with downpipes concealed within them, mark the bay divisions between the windows. At ground level these are flush with the wall but at the upper stages they stand proud. This effect is created by the recession of the five-light square headed brick mullion windows in the nave walls by six orders of brick, taking the line of the wall back too. Brick hoodmoulds continue across the tops of the windows and around the buttresses. Sometimes the bricks are laid in different directions, such as on the top of the buttresses where they are laid vertically.
A projecting gabled north porch with angle buttresses contains a door within a pointed arch. The principal entrance is placed centrally within a lean-to structure at the west end. This was presumably a temporary elevation when the vision was still for a larger church.
Building Fabric and Features
Nave
20th century 3-bay
Aisle
20th century narrow north and south aisles
Porch
20th century x2 (north and west)
Chancel
20th century with south organ chamber
Organ (component)
20th century south chamber
Vestry
20th century for choir and clergy
Building Materials
Brick
20th century red
Clay
20th century roof tiles
Sandstone
20th century sand-lime bricks inside
Interior
Interior Description
Like the exterior the interior is also constructed entirely in brick but of a pale stone-coloured tone with red-tiles inserted to introduce decoration. For instance this contrast is used to suggest a cornice and a plinth as well as to pick out the base of the piers. The only exception is the west wall which is plastered on account of its intended temporary nature. At ground level an internal glazed wood-framed draught-lobby surrounds the west door. Further doors are situated at the east ends of both aisles, that to the north enters into the porch, and that to the south opens into the vestry area.
In the nave, pointed arcades spring from octagonal brick piers with transverse arches crossing the aisles and separating the bays. Within each bay a 5-light metal-framed window, set back within a recess which extends to the floor, pierces the aisle wall. They contain clear rectangular lead-paned glass. The only stained glass is in the south wall. Light fittings hang from the apex of each side arch whilst in the nave original pendant lights are suspended from the arch-braced king-post roof trusses which roof the space. The trusses rest on corbels placed within the spandrels of the arcades. The corbels consist of stacks of tiles, resembling a SPAB tile repair. Additional illumination is provided by discrete modern spot-lights.
The floors are paved in small tiles in the side aisles with the main aisle covered by carpet. Either side of the aisle boarded level pew platforms are seated with unfixed oak pews of a simple but unique design employing a pegged system of construction (presume designed by the architects). Frontals at the east end of the nave display a design motif seen repeated several times within the chancel. Some pews have plaques attached to their ends recording their presentation in 1935. As with the pews, all of the oak doors with their attached iron work as well as the hymn boards appear to have been designed specifically for St Matthew’s.
The chancel is raised by three stone steps and is separated from the nave by a pointed chancel arch, the effect of roll mouldings is created using brick. Either side of the steps are octagonal-shaped brick ambone built into the structure of the church with oak linen-fold panelling to their upper sections. That to the north is the pulpit, that to the south, a prayer desk. The floor is tiled. Oak choir stalls on tiered wood boarded platforms are fixed to the north and south sides. They echo the style of the nave seating and have oak frontals which repeat a motif seen on the pew frontals, the reredos, communion rails and prayer desk. The roof over the chancel has no arch-braced trusses. To the south a double-chamfered arch leads through to the organ chamber.
A second pointed arch, matching the chancel arch, divides the chancel from the sanctuary. The sanctuary is raised by a single step. In the south wall a piscina is constructed in brick. The altar is raised on a further step.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
20th century solid oak fronted table with recessed cross in centre and wooden candlesticks either side
Reredos
20th century oak, inscribed 'I am the Bread of Life' with 4 columns (repeating design of the communion rails and frontals) and curtains behind, 1938
Pulpit
20th century irregular octagonal shaped brick ambone with oak linen-fold panelling to top, built into the fabric of the building and matched by prayer desk opposite, erected in memory of the Vicar of Owthorne 1914-28, Revd Learoyd
Lectern
20th century brass eagle inscribed in memory of Revd Learoyd
Font (component)
20th century unusual - concrete with flat oak cover, square base with chamfered corners terminating in almost octagonal top, raised crucifix on each side and wave design at base, plaque records its gift in memorium
Rail
20th century oak same design as choir frontals and reredos
Stained Glass (window)
20th century • East window – 3 lights featuring St Matthew, the Good Shepherd and St Luke. Each light given in memory of a different person and recorded in elegant copper plaques with blue enamel text fixed to the chancel walls, c.1935 Attributed to John Ward Knowles and Sons by Dr Neil Moat, and considered to be a fairly good example of their work. • South aisle window - WWI memorial, 4 lights depict Christ in a fishing scene.
Bells
Churchyard
Grid reference: TA 338 279
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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