Coventry: St Barnabas
Overview
Grid reference: SP 345 806
This modest urban church and attached community centre stands rather hidden on a cul-de-sac in an area of social housing and industrial units in the Great Heath suburb of Coventry. It was built in 1930-32 as a Mission church, a daughter church of the now redundant St Mark’s.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
3-bay nave and 2-bay chancel, north aisle, north organ chamber and vestry, small west porch. Small boiler house opening off the south nave wall.
Dimensions:
Nave 16m (50ft) by 8m (25ft).
Description of Archaeology and History
Built in 1930-32 as a Mission church, a daughter church of the now redundant St Mark’s. The aisle arcade has been glazed and the north aisle partitioned for use as a creche and for other community purposes, as has the church hall.
Exterior Description
Seen as one approaches from the west, it would be difficult to tell that this was a church at all, so plain and domestic is the plain double-gabled façade and the detailing of the windows and the doorway leading into the shallow porch. This aspect of the church matches well the post-war hall adjacent to it, now used as a creche and for other community purposes.
The east façade has slightly more elaboration, with a large 5-light window with Perpendicular tracery. The aisle and nave windows are two-lights in the same style within square-headed frames, the north vestry and organ chamber with smaller versions of these. Buttresses of two weatherings define the bays. All this detail is very conservative, a contrast with the many progressive churches of this date in Coventry.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
1970
East window. Brightly coloured semi-abstract pattern with inset depiction of Virgin and Child.
Building Materials
Brick
Unknown
Red
Sandstone
Unknown
Dressings
Slate
Unknown
Roof
Interior
Interior Description
The pride of the church lies within, namely the chancel furnishings. There is little to distract the eye from the east end on entering through the west porch. The nave arcades are of stone, pointed and of two orders of hollow chamfers, rising without capitals from the octagonal piers. The arcade is now glazed in, as the north aisle is used for community purposes. Serried ranks of 1930’s chairs fill the nave.
The large responds have chamfered corners, the chancel arch is in the same style as the nave arcades. Beyond this, the lectern and choir stalls are the chief attraction, elaborated with carved figures, some of animals, some depicting the proletariat of industrial pre-war Coventry. Male workers are depicted in their working clothes, one most strikingly hard at work with spanner and cog in hand. These are all executed in a very straightforward, bold style.
One step leads up through a low brick and terracotta screen to the High altar raised on one more step, and flanked by stone riddel posts with incised lozenge patterns supporting pairs of carved angels in the same bold and rather severe style. The east window above has stained glass. The floors are of woodblock with some linoleum strips and carpetting. The roof is of arch-braced construction, continuing unbroken through to the chancel.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
1935
Plain table
Reredos
1935
Dossal curtain, flanked by angels on riddel posts.
Pulpit
1935
Hexagonal stone pulpit with,inset terracotta panel.
Lectern
1935
Oak canopied reading desk, legs have detached colonettes with elaborately carved lion figure finials.
Font (object)
1935
Ocagonal brickcylinder with domed brass cover.
Organ (object)
1935
Two manual pipe organ by Charles Lee of Coventry
Churchyard
Grid reference: SP 345 806
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
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