Bell 1 of 1
Founded by Mears & Stainbank 1938
Dove Bell ID: 59251 Tower ID: 23062 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Romford: St John The Divine
Overview
Grid reference: TQ 501 891
The church appears as a fairly typical building of the period, a small neo-Romanesque basilica with short central tower, with more recent additions. The interior features many touches of quality. It is painted light blue and white and adheres to a Byzantine style. St John's succeeded a mission chapel in the parish and was built on a new site in 1927-8 to designs by Caröe & Passmore, but the tower and west end were not completed until the 1980s, when a low west porch and 2-storey vestry on the south side of the chancel were also added.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
West porch, nave with central tower, chancel with 2-storey south vestry and north chapel.
Dimensions:
Nave 15m long, 5m wide.
Description of Archaeology and History
Romford was a Medieval town, the Market Place and historic church (St Edward the Confessor) of which is still recognisable after it was developed as a suburb of Greater London in the early 20th century. The area in question, Collier Row, was a small hamlet to the north, its name taken from wood burners who are recorded here as early as the 15th century. The site has some archaeological potential and reference should be made to the Historic Environment Record if any development of the site is considered.
The church succeeded a mission chapel in the parish and was built on a new site in 1927-8 to designs by Caroe & Passmore, but the tower and west end were not completed until the 1980s, when a low west porch and 2-storey vestry on the south side of the chancel were also added. There was a more minor restoration for the Millennium.
Exterior Description
Externally, the church appears as a fairly typical building of the period, a small neo-Romanesque basilica with short central tower, with more recent additions. One has to venture inside to see the original vision, and recognise that a talented architect was at work here.
Starting with the west facade as approached from the gate, this has a very basic brick west porch with glazed foors, a bell hung above it from a bracket. The west gable above is pierced by a single round-arched window, added later when the west end was finished.
The tower is of two stages with a round-arched window to each face above an oculus, pyramidal roof and finial cross. The nave fenestration original has round-arched windows with good ferrementa, one to each bag, high in the walls. The chancel has a 3-light east window of stepped round-arched windows with colonettes, oculi to the side walls and a corbel table. Dedication stone, 1927. The south vestry has a long slit window at the corner.
Building Fabric and Features
Porch
20th Century west porch
Nave
20th Century 15x5m nave
Chancel
20th Century
Vestry
20th Century 2-storey south vestry
Chapel (component)
20th Century north chapel
Tower (component)
20th Century Nave with central tower.
Building Materials
Brick
20th Century Church constructed of brick
Pantile
20th Century Pantile roof
Stone
20th Century Hopton stone in the interior.
Interior
Interior Description
The interior is pleasant, with many touches of quality, painted in light blue and white and light and airy. The style here is Byzantine, perhaps influenced by the dedication, with elegant arcades of blue Hopton stone columns supporting a moulded entablature and a lofty tunnel-vaulted plastered roof, domed crossing and rich moulded stucco to the chancel arch and sanctuary. 2-bay arcades open to the north chapel and the vestry each side of the crossing.
The church is simply furnished with modern upholstered chairs, the stone High Altar provides a dignified focue. Woodblock floors partly under blue carpet. The organ stands free in front of the arcade to the north chapel.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
20th Century Hopton stone chest with symbol of the Evangelist. Nave altar, war memorial altar, and children's altar.
Pulpit
20th Century Partly of 1932 but reassembled in 1985, light frame with Classical columns to the corners and moulded rail, limewashed.
Lectern
20th Century Wooden reading desk with open tracery front and carved angels.
Organ (component)
20th Century Small one-manual pipe organ by Gray & Davison, attractive classical case, 1928.
Bells
Portable Furnishings and Artworks
Framed scroll with the names of the vicars of Romford since the 12th century
Registers from 1928.
Churchyard
Grid reference: TQ 501 891
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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