Teddington: St Alban
Overview
Grid reference: TQ 164 712
The church is built of yellow-white Doulting stone, except at the west where the later extension is of yellow-stock brick. The roofing is of bright green copper sheets except the western lean—to baptistery extension which is slated. From the east and north, the church presents a striking and noble aspect. It was based by Niven on French models and bears close affinities e.g. with the Cathedral of Clermont-Ferrand and the larger parish churches in the area around Rouen.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Lofty nave with aisles under lean-to roofs; low, short one bay deep transepts, with a chapel adjoining the east wall of the north transept, apsidal-ended sanctuary with ambulatory, vestries opening off the eastern part of the south ambulatory and a western baptistry extension under a separate lean-to roof. The vicarage, (c.1900) lies away to the south-east and the parish hall (c.1910) stands a short distance to the west.
Description of Archaeology and History
By 1884 the old parish church of St. Mary was found to be of too small a size and a site was obtained for a new church across the road. The foundation stone was laid in 1887, the architect being W. Niven, FSA, a local resident, and the builders being T.H. Adamson and Sons. The church was dedicated in 1889 but received no formal consecration until the debt was cleared in 1896. Nevertheless, it remained unfinished and lack of funds has never since allowed completion of the nave vault or the western bays of the nave.
Exterior Description
The church is built of yellow-white Doulting stone, except at the west where the later extension is of yellow-stock brick. The roofing is of bright green copper sheets except the western lean—to baptistery extension which is slated. From the east and north, the church presents a striking and noble aspect. It was based by Niven on French models and bears close affinities e.g. with the Cathedral of Clermont-Ferrand and the larger parish churches in the area around Rouen. Only the eastern parts were finished as the architect intended. Stepped buttresses divide the ambulatory into nine bays and rise behind gablets above the lean-to roofs to form flying buttresses which abut further stepped buttresses at clerestory level. These terminate at roofline level in more elaborate gablets which are ornamented with shields and emblems. The division of nave and chancel, which is expressed internally by a panelled chancel arch incorporatedinto the unfinished vaulting system as -a very narrow vaulting bay, is demonstrated externally by two stepped and flying buttresses placed close together. Further west, the flying buttresses are missing except over the north transept but their abutment may be seen on the north side at clerestory level and the buttresses to the aisles are in position on both sides. The transepts are gabled and the octagonal stone spirelet at the north-east angle of the north transept gives some indication of the intended transept profile.
The clerestory aisles and ambulatory are finished with parapets which rest on corbel tables.
The fenestration is grouped into seven main types in the church. For example, the nave clerestory windows are of four trefoil headed lights topped by three trefoils. Further east over the two western bays of the sanctuary are variants on the triple-stepped lancet composition typical of the aisles and transept with the head of the central lancet filled by two trefoils and the side lights topped by trefoils. The five bay apsidal end contains narrow two-light windows with cusped circles in each head. At the east end, windows of four cinquefoil-headed lights under a circle suggest intersecting tracery and flank a three-light window of different design. The vestries are lit by transomed rectangular windows in the late Tudor style and the main vestry has a bay window. The windows of the baptistery extension are in the same manner but its north and south walls are marked only by odd half arches in brick. On the west face of the church is a bell in a bell-case.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
The stained glass is part of the incompleted scheme of Fr. Boyd. The clerestorey lights illustrate the 'Aposolic Ministry' whilst the windows in the aisles consist of Old Testament types opposite their New Testament anti-types to the south. With the exception of the 'Jonah' window in the north transept and the 'Appearance to Nary' in the ambulatory, which are from the studio of Kempe, the glass is by Mr. W.F. Dixon.
Interior
Interior Description
The interior continues the convincing impression of thirteenth century French Gothic and much of the church is vaulted. Aisles and ambulatory are fitted with quadripartite rib vaults but the nave vault was not continued above the springing bases as a result of shortage of funds, and the nave is now covered by a pitched wooden roof. The two-bay transepts are vaulted like the aisles but the intersection of the ribs are emphasized by bosses. The Blessed Sacrament chapel which opens to the east of the north transept, is oriented north-south and fitted with a small transverse ribbed vault. The sanctuary is covered by two bays of sexpartite vaulting and the longditudinal rib extends somewhat further to a large boss from which depend the six ribs which delineate the apsidal termination.
The nave is of four bays although the architect intended a further two and the west end has remained protected by its 'temporary' asbestos shooting and a western baptistery bay of brick. The ambitious programme begun in 1887 terminates abruptly after the fourth bay and the carved shields and emblems to be found in the spandrels of the two eastern nave bays are absent in those further west. In one spandrel remains an unworked block of stone.
The piers are of the same type throughout the church with the exception of the clustered shafts which divide the two bays of each transept from the aisles. Octagonal piers are fitted with slender attached shafts at the cardinal points which rise thrsugh narrow capitals to form the inner order of the arches of the arcade and, towards the nave and sanctuary, to divide the narrow and inaccessible corbelled triforium gallery of pierced quatrefoils. The shafts continue to divide the clerestorey into bays but terminate in the nave shortly above the capitals from which the vault was to have sprung. The triforium space is narrow and only at the east end below the two-light clerestorey windows is the height of the building strongly emphasized by the narrow arches of the eastern ambulatory, for the inside nave bays match the four-light clorestorey windows.
Further noteworthy features are the fine rich diaper work in the spandrels over the choir, the chancel pavement of white and black chequered tip, marble and the markedly raised sanctuary floor of white black dark red and grey-green patterned marble, and the sculptured figures of angels ceasing and playing musical instruments in the spandrels of the apse. The vestries are large and spacious and the clergy vestry is fitted with panelling which in part appears to be late 16th century, and was brought from Belgium.
Fixtures and fittings
Reredos
1890s
The stylistic basis for the design was suggested by the Bishop of Durham and the work as designed by Skipworth was executed by a Mr. Turner. It is a modified version of the series of reredoses in Henry VIPs chapel in Westminster Abbey. Against the elaborately panelled east wall are large figures of 'All Saints' flanked by Abbot Wareham and Edward the Confessor beneath heavily decorated canopies. It was exhibited in 1892 and installed in 1896.
Font (object)
1877
The font of 1877 with attached marble shafts was brought from St. Mary's and doesn't well match the lofty wooden font cover with its elaborate pierced Gothic patterns.
Pulpit
The pulpit stands midway down the nave in the manner of French churches, and the stair is wrapped around a pier of the south arcade. It has an elaborate octagonal carved canopy of four tiers and the pulpit itself is carved with figures of missionary Saints. The pulpit projects from the pier with no further support.
Lectern
1885
Of two-sided type, 1885, complete with vellum and metal-bound Old and New Testaments.
Painting
The church contains a number of late 19th century copies of Old Masters, the finest copies being those of Hubert and Jan van Eyck's 'Adoration of the Mystic Lamb' polyptychand the Florentine copy of Fra Angelico's 'Crucifixion.
Organ (object)
A splendid three-manual Lewis organ is situated in a gallery which is supported on a double colonnade which extends into the north ambulatory.
Churchyard
Grid reference: TQ 164 712
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
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