Plaistow: St Andrew
Overview
Grid reference: TQ 407 825
The original design included a massive central tower above the crossing with deeply recessed windows, an octagonal belfry stage embraced by pinnacles and then a stout spire with a tier of lucarnes towards the top. There are few features on the south side, which is that seen from the street, all the windows being severe plain lancets, extremely small single lights in the aisle bays (except for the east one which has two). A strong horizontal emphasis which would presumably have been counteracted by the upward thrust of the proposed tower is given by an uninterrupted stringcourse at this level which circumvents the small buttresses also, and this is reinforced by another which forms the sills of the eight uniform clerestory lights.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Aisled nave of four wide and one narrow bay; crossing with south transept and north chapel; apsidal chancel. The halls lie to the east, and the Vicarage to the west.
Description of Archaeology and History
The church was built in 1868-70 to designs by James Brooks who specialized in providing capacious but economical churches for the High Church evangelising movement in East London.
Exterior Description
Built of Kentish ragstone, and the roofs are covered with red tiles.
The original design included a massive central tower above the crossing with deeply recessed windows, an octagonal belfry stage embraced by pinnacles and then a stout spire with a tier of lucarnes towards the top. There are few features on the south side, which is that seen from the street, all the windows being severe plain lancets, extremely small single lights in the aisle bays (excert for the east one which has two). A strong horizontal emphasis which would presumablyhave been counteracted by the upward thrust of the proposed tower is given by an uninterrupted stringcourse at this level which circumvents the small buttresses also, and this is reinforced by another which forms the sills of the eight uniform clerestory lights.
The clerestory lights are continued round the apse at the east end of the chancel, only the south transept breaking the sequence. This has two similar but larger lancet lights and a small sexfoil within a deeply moulded roundel above. The lower part of the wall is blank. Behind the transept rises the truncated central tower with the beginnings of buttresses. It only just overtops the roofs of nave and chancel.
The north wall of the nave is the same as the south, and the apse of the chancel continues in the same way as on the south. The only difference is that there is no north transept, the small chapel which occupies its place being roofed level with the aisle. There are two strong flying buttresses to support the tower in the absence of the prop which would be provided by transept walls. This allows for two more clerestory windows in the north wall of the crossing space.
The finest aspect of the outside of the church is seen from the garden of the Vicarage to the west. The notable feature is the group of four equal lancets which occupy the middle third of the wallspace of the west wall. Above them, within the triangular area of the gable, is a large sexfoil within a roundel. Below the windows is the threefold west porch.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
The stained glass is variable - that by Clayton and Bell has mostly disappeared and only remains in the small aisle windows, the largest being the two windows at the west end of each aisle. The stained glass in the chancel and in the north chapel is modern.
Interior
Interior Description
The interior of the church is large and light, the result of whitening carried out in 1938 on the advice of the Central Council for the Care of Churches which covered the minimal polychromedecoration on the walls rather to the detriment of the architecture. The chief loss was the diaper work in the large blank area of wall beneath the windows in the east apse and the reredos, also made by Nichol, was broken up at this time. The stained glass is limited to the small aisle windows, apart from two small panels in the west window.
The floor of the nave is tiled with Staffordshire tiles, the patterns differing in the main alley, the area covered by pews and the strips under the arches of the arcades. The arcades are carried on circular columns with detached shafts tied at the midpoint to the columns by ring mouldings. The capitals have vigorous stiff-leaf foliage and 'water-holding' bases. The arches arc simply moulded with roll-mouldings along the arrisses, the imposts at both ends of the arcades being carried on small corbels also with stiff-leaf foliage.
Above the arcades, the clerestory forms another continuous horizontal motif, taking the form of a uniform arcade along both walls with the windows set in alternate arches. The columns which support the stilted arches are set a little out from the wall giving a feeling of additional space.
The chancel arch is very tall and is supported by clustered columns, the order of which is repeated in the mouldings above the foliated capitals. Together with the arch between the crossing and the sanctuary, this forms a fine setting for the large figure of Christ set on a rood above the tall wooden screen.
The chancel arch which delineates the apse and separates it from the crossing is similar to the arch between the nave and the crossing except that the innermost columns do not come down to the floor but are supported upon small corbels about half-way up the wall. The vault of the crossing is a simple groin with ribs of Bath stone and stone infilling.
The apse has a fine roof rather like that of the nave adapted to cover a semicircle with tightly spaced ribs in a fan-shaped pattern. These still retain their original painted pattern with small stars at intervals. The roof is supported by a central king post at the chord of the apse which is in turn borne on four struts which meet at this point.
Fixtures and fittings
Font (object)
The Font is a bold and massive design in rich marbles by Brooks, executed by Burke and Company of Reent Street. The square bowl has inlaid roundels containing white crosses and is supported on a thick drum with small colonettes at the four corners.
Font (component)
The Cover is octagonal, suspended from the roof with counterweights. The lower stage has a trefoiled niche in each . face and then the spirical part has three tiers decorated with a band of pierced two - light lucarnes, then cinquefoils and finally tiny cinquefoils•within gablets. At the top is a knobby finial.
Screen
The rood screen also appears to be by Brooks, being similar in effect to that by him at St. John the Baptist, Holland Road, Kensington.
Brass
The brass in the chancel to the Revd. George Godsell, first Vicar and Founder of the church, is by Sir Ninian Comper, and commemorateshis death in 1903.
Stall
The choir stalls are part, probably, of Brooks' design for the church, being returned against the screen.
Lectern
Wooden eagle
Pulpit
The pulpit is of wood, four-sided with canted corners, the foremost of which has a figure of the Virgin carrying a lamb. The other sides have panels with stylized flowers below and open triple arches above. The whole upper part stands on a squat circular stone drum surrounded by attached colonettes ornamented with dogtooth and foliated bands.
Churchyard
Grid reference: TQ 407 825
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 | N/A |
| Solar Thermal Panels | N/A |
| Biomass | N/A |
| Wind Turbine | N/A |
| Air Source Heat Pump | N/A |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | N/A |
| Ev Charging | N/A |
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
Submit a change
If you notice something incorrect or missing, please explain it in the form below and submit it to our team for review.