Southampton: St Jude
Overview
Grid reference: SU 394 148
The original church on this site opened in March 1880 – but of temporary construction. The present building was constructed in 1955 to a design by architects Gutteridge & Gutteridge of Southampton. This firm changed its name to Gutteridges in the 1980s but the office closed in the late 1990s and no longer exists. Most of the furnishings date from this period.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
S porch, S tower, aisled nave, chancel, vestry and other associated rooms, WCs.
Description of Archaeology and History
The site has low archaeological potential. There are no burials in the churchyard.
From the 1880's North Atlantic trade stimulated Southampton’s economy and in 1907 White Star transatlantic liners moved to Southampton. New docks for ships were built in the years 1890-1911. In 1919 Cunard made Southampton the terminus of their New York service. In 1919 the first motor buses appeared in Southampton. The population continued to grow throughout the first half of the century and this created the need for new churches. The first church on the site was built in March 1880.
After the war Southampton was left with a severe housing shortage and from the mid 1950's a huge program of council housing began on the eastern and western outskirts of the town. at Millbrook, Thornhill and Harefield. Also at this time many slums were demolished in parts of Chapel Northam, Chapel, Shirley and Bitterne. More council houses were built in the 1960's. As well as more houses at Thornhill a new estate was built at Townhill. Slum redevelopment continued in Northam. Southampton council also had the task of replacing the prefabs erected in the late 1940's and early 1950's with permanent houses.
Southampton remained the foremost passenger port in Britain in the 1950's and 1960's. In 1962 over half a million passengers passed through the port as did 4% of the cargoes imported into Britain. Imports included fruit and vegetables, meat and dairy produce, wine, grain, timber, wool and cars. In the 1950's and 1960's shipbuilding and heavy engineering continued in the Old Docks and along both banks of the Itchen but some light industry came to Southampton including firms in the new Millbrook Industrial estate.
This may have given the spur for finally refurbishing the old church of St Jude’s. The present Church was constructed in 1955 to a design by architects Gutteridge & Gutteridge Southampton. This firm changed its name to Gutteridges in the 1980s but the office closed in the late 1990s and no longer exists. They were responsible for other public buildings in Southampton such as the Hartley Library and Connaught Halls at the University of Southampton.
Exterior Description
The exterior is built from a yellowish brick in stretcher bond, with some rendered surfaces.
The S porch is a simple structure with pitched roof and square-headed doorway with modern timber door. There are small rectangular windows to E and W.
The tall S tower has a tall, narrow recess in the S face and a large cross to the W. The bell openings are simple rectangles; two to the E and W and three to the N and S. The roof has a cornice.
The large nave has a highly visible W window of three very tall lights with blind panels above and below, and with stepped boundaries between panes. The roof has a heavy, pitched cornice. It has a side elevation of six bays, four containing a lancets with triangular head, and one containing a hexagonal window to the E.
The aisles have coupled square windows in each bay but no other divisions.
The chancel has a coupled window to the N and S, and no E window. The vestry, WCs and other associated buildings to the E of the church have small rectangular windows.
Building Fabric and Features
Porch
20th century south
Tower (component)
20th century south
Nave
20th century aisled
Chancel
20th century
Vestry
20th century
Building Materials
Brick
20th century
Tile
20th century roof
Painted Plaster
20th century interior
Steel
20th century stanchions supporting roof
Timber
20th century roof structure
Interior
Interior Description
The nave bays are separated by vertical steel stanchions which rise to a horizontal beam, creating a grid-like interior. Each bay has a single lancet window in the clerestorey with a blind panel beneath. The aisle bays (where the brickwork is unplastered and unpainted) each contain a coupled square window. The roof is stepped with three plains to either side of the ridge, apart from the E and W ends where it comprises tiles laid diagonally. The E window is made up of three lancets that rise to the ceiling line. One notable architectural feature is the window about the S entrance, a shallow bow with alternating panes of glass and crucifixes.
The chancel is set behind a triangular arch, creating a theatrical ‘proscenium’ effect. There is no W window, so the W wall of the church is a large plain expanse (currently painted a light blue). There are N and S lancet windows at clerestorey level. There are steps up to the chancel and altar.
The vestry and other rooms (WCs, storage, etc) are all plain in execution with plastered and painted walls, rectangular windows, and plain doors set in rectangular-headed doorways.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
20th century Plain timber panelled altar.
Pulpit
20th century Two built in pulpits, elegantly executed with a series of vertical panels and well-suited to the church.
Lectern
20th century Relatively plain Gothic lectern.
Font (component)
20th century Unusual cylindrical font, made for the church, with shallow grooves like fluting on a classical column.
Rail
19th century Simple turned balusters.
Organ (component)
20th century Bevington & Sons of London.
Stained Glass
20th century Modern stained glass scenes in aisle windows, of varying authorship and dates. Plaques beneath three windows to: • Walter Brewer, d. 1968 • Victor and Gwendoline Budd • Freda and Alfred Garney, d. 1983 and 1982
Portable Furnishings and Artworks
Registers
Churchyard
Grid reference: SU 394 148
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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