Nominal: 1552 Hz Weight: 214 lbs Diameter: 21" Bell 1 of 1
Founded by John Taylor & Co 1971
Dove Bell ID: 59328 Tower ID: 23104 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Rugby: St Matthew
Overview
Grid reference: SP 501 750
A large early Victorian neo-Gothic church of smooth yellow York stone ashlar, set on the south-western edge of Rugby town centre. The church was built in 1841 as a chapel-of-ease to the medieval parish church of St Andrew. It was designed by R C Hussey, Rickman’s partner, who continued the practice after the latter retired. St Matthew’s is a lancet church, still in the naïve pre-archaeological Gothic Revival version of the Early English style.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
5-bay aisled nave, west narthex, 3-bay chancel with south choir vestry block and north vestry/organ chamber.
Dimensions:
Nave c 15m (50ft) x 5m, Chancel c 8m long.
Description of Archaeology and History
Rugby developed from a small medieval market town mentioned in Domesday Book to a larger industrial one from the 1830s with the arrival of the railways and expansion of local industry, and the growth of the school. The church was built in 1841 as a chapel-of-ease to the medieval parish church of St Andrew. It was designed by R C Hussey, Rickman’s partner, who continued the practice after the latter retired. The land was given by the Revd Dr Bloxham, Assistant Master at the School, and the family were the first patrons of the church.
Galleries were added around 1846, and then the west narthex and gables to the aisles were added allowing an extension of the galleries. There is therefore little left externally of the original design. The pews in the nave were replaced in 1902. The chancel was built in 1914 after the parish bought and demolished the shops which until then had enclosed the church on this side, and a vestry block along the south-east side was added (with a wall extended around the east side in brick at some point in recent years to provide toilets etc), and a vestry/organ chamber to the north.
The east bay of the north aisle was converted into a war memorial chapel in 1920 in memory of the boys from nearby Oakfield School who had worshipped there, in 1949 it was rededicated as a war memorial chapel for the whole parish. The interior has been radically reordered in recent years to better serve the evangelical ethos of the church, particularly the chancel and the narthex, the latter screened off in 1971. Details are given in the description below.
Exterior Description
St Matthew’s is a lancet church, still in the naïve pre-archaeological Gothic Revival version of the Early English style. The long chancel is perhaps more correct, but sits uncomfortably with the rest of the building, which is rather squat with little vertical emphasis despite the presence of a gabled belcote at the west end. It presents on its show side to the road a row of cross-gables over the aisle, such also to the west end and north aisle.
The articulation of the aisles is unusual, with paired cusped lancets to each bay and a single large lancet above forming a clearstorey to light the galleries, all with plain hoodmoulds. The west bay of the aisles has two smaller lancets stepped up to the east, obviously to light the stair to the internal galleries. Adjacent to this are pointed doorways in the end walls of the lean-to narthex, again originally to give access to the galleries.
The narthex west wall has an arcade of five double-cusped lights either side of a gabled porch (which only projects vertically) with an entrance articulated as a 2-light plate tracery window. This has four quatrefoils to a roundel in the head and filigree carving to the spandrels, and a pointed surround of two orders with colonettes under a hoodmould to head stops. The clearstorey of the west façade behind this is articulated as the aisles with three roofs, the belcote rising from the central gable. There are small foiled openings in the end gables.
The south aspect of the chancel is almost hidden from view from ground level by the long block of the vestry, which is set at an angle to it and effectively cuts off the south-east end, with a small yard enclosed within. It has groups of narrow plain lancets in its outer wall, and a stone plaque inscribed with the year of its build, 1914. The chancel behind has five lancets to the south side wall under a continuous hoodmould. The east gable of the south aisle has a single lancet, encroached upon by the chancel. The west bay of the chancel on the north is taken up by the organ chamber. The east window is a stepped 3-light lancet window with hoodmould.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
1865
The east window is by Lavers and Barraud, designed by J Milner Allen. It was installed in 1865 in memory of Mrs Pennington. It depicts Christ carrying the cross in the centre with text “he is led as a lamb to the slaughter” between this and Abraham leading Isaac below, agnus dei in the central lower panel. Left light has Moses discovery in the bulrushes, below Adoration of the Magi, right light has “He is risen”, above “lifted Joseph out of the pit” (Genesis 37.28).
Stained Glass
Inter-War
The aisle south side has scenes from Christ’s Ministry erected in memory of the Howard family from 1915-35, signed by John Hall & sons of Bristol and London. World War I marble tablet in south aisle between the western two windows, “I am the Resurrection and the Life”, and “if thou wouldest believe thou shouldest see the glory of God”. The others have scenes from Matthew 5:12, 13:23, 28:19. Different is the window with Ruth and Esther in the east bay, with tiers of figures representing virtues flanking the main figures. These are somewhat in the style of Percy Bacon but may also be by Hall.
Stained Glass
1940
The aisle north side has from the west Moses, Elijah, and the four Evangelists with tiers of figures representing virtues flanking the main figures, part of a scheme with those others also having these. Plaque recording erection by the Rainbow family in 1940. St Timothy and St David in the school war memorial window in the east bay with tiers of figures representing virtues flanking the main figures.
Building Materials
York Stone
Slate
Interior
Interior Description
Moving to the interior, the church is painted yellow with blue in the chancel, only the arcades exposed stone, the arches white, pointed and plain. The panelled roof is painted light blue, red carpets. Good stained glass in the chancel east end window and the aisle windows impart more colour. The arcades are carried on alternate round columns and octagonal piers, with tall pointed arches across the aisles springing from plain moulded capitals.
The galleries have panelled fronts, the rail pierced with an arcade of short cusped lancets, again painted yellow. The original 1840s pews are preserved here, as well as a small table of this time. They have curved ends, some are still numbered. There are sections with smaller pews on each side, which were apparently installed for boys from the school who worshipped here while the school chapel was being built in the 1870s. The organ pipes are displayed at the east end of the north gallery and to the chancel.
The main body of the church has been much altered in recent years. The pews in the nave have panelled backs and rounded ends, not of particular quality. The eastern bay of the nave has been cleared and a platform now extends from the chancel across this area.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
1914
High altar, oak table with open front with filigree perpendicular tracery in oak
Reredos
Commandments, Lord’s Prayer and Creed within carved stone arcading to the height of the sill, wooden panels beneath below a dado. Recorded as given by Matthew Bloxham.
Plaque (object)
A small brass plaque records pulpit's former location on the north side of the chancel arch and its erection in memory of Helen Louise Hall, 1893.
Lectern
1885
Sizeable brass eagle lectern, a particularly aggressive looking bird
Font (object)
Marble, hexagonal with six colonettes supporting arcading around the bowl. Said to have come from St Andrews, where it had been donated by Matthew Bloxham.
Bells
Churchyard
Grid reference: SP 501 750
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
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