Edmonton: St Martin
Overview
Grid reference: TQ 349 935
Although built at a time when the Diocese of London was rapidly expanding its stock of churches, in some cases to the detriment of their architectural standard, the church of St.Martin Edmonton is a substantial building of quality. The dominant, and oft-repeated, feature of the exterior is an uncommonly proportioned lancet, wide in relation to its height, within a surround of two or three receding orders of brickwork or stonework.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Six-bay aisled nave with west doorway, two-bay transepts; chancel with south chapel. The vestries lie to the north of the north aisle. There is no tower or bell-cote.
Description of Archaeology and History
By E.L.Warre, Dean's Yard, Westminster, the foundation stone bein laid on 13th November, 1909 by the Bishop of London and the church being consecrated by him on 25th February, 1911. The first church on the site, a small iron room, was built in 1900; the purchase of further land preparatory to building a permanent church cost £900. The funds for building the church were provided by a Mrs. Elizabeth Mason of St.Leonard's-on-Sea, who gave £20,000 so that the church might be built and the living endowed to the amount of £200 per annum. The parish hall was begun in May, 1909, and later in the year the iron church was removed to St. Anne's, Tottenham. The interior of the church was restored in 1970 under Mr. John Phillips.
Exterior Description
Although built at a time when the Diocese of London was rapidly expanding its stock of churches, in some cases to the detriment of their architectural standard, the church of St.Martin Edmonton is a substantial building of quality.
The dominant, and oft-repeated, feature of the exterior is an uncommonly proportioned lancet, wide in relation to its height, within a surround of two or three receding orders of brickwork or stonework. There is no large window in the church except of this form. The west front, for example, has a doorway of like proportions (but larger in scale) flanked by two such windows, a row of five uniformly similar windows above, one of the same design in the west wall of each aisle, and two (much smaller) in the gable. Above the double doorway to the church is a lamp hanging in front of a wrought-iron grille incorporating geese (emblematic of St.Martin). A vertical accent is provided by semi-octagonal projections separating the nave from the aisles which eventually rise above the eaves as octagonal turrets with tiny lancets in each face capped by ogee-shaped stone cupolas. The apex of the gable is surmounted by a large stone gable cross.
The most prominent feature of the south flank of the church is the series of stone octagonal ogee caps to the buttresses, each surmounted by a small finial. These rise well above the eaves of the aisle roof, to anchor flying buttresses which support the clerestory. Four bays of the aisle wall are visible, and contain first a doorway, then a window within a rectangular frame, of two four-centred lights of almost "Tudor" proportions. The following bay has a similar window and finally in the fourth bay is a gabled porch with a large, badly weathered, finial. East of this comes the south transept, very wide from west to east so that the buttress which runs up the middle of the gabled wall appears to divide it into two bays, each lit by a single wide lancet of the familiar pattern. The finial on the gable provides a flamboyant foil to the unadorned blankness of the wall surface below. The transept opens eastwards into a chapel almost the same length as the chancel, lit by a single lancet in the south wall and a triplet in the east wall, echoing the arrangement of the chancel east wall.
The east window of the chancel is composed of three large lancet lights, with a vesica piscis higher in the gable; there are no windows in the south chancel wall and only a single light in the north wall; the north side of the church is basically of the same design as the south, with a two-bay transept. It lacks, however, the chapel flanking the chancel and has the addition of two gabled vestries north of the north aisle. At the foot of the east wall is the foundation stone.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
The cast window, of three lights, shows Christ in Glory with a Bishop (St.Martin), St. George and a warrior Saint (St. Alban); in the side lights are St.Peter and St.Paul with angels above, and Moses and David, also with angels above; the text below is from the Te Deum. The window is a memorial to those who died in the First World War and, although not of any special norit as a design, brings a welcome focus of colour to the east end of the building; the colours are taken up in the decoration of the roof.
Stained Glass
The east window of the south chapel.
Interior
Interior Description
Although the exterior colouring is dominated by the warm red brick wall facings, complemented by the yellow Bath stone dressings, the interior is all plastered and painted white, with the Bath stone here showing a more gentle honey colour. The colour-scheme shows the architectural bones of the building to good advantage, and these bear out the initial substantial and confident appearance of the exterior. The arcades are carried on stout cylindrical piers reminiscent of Norman work, with octagonal capitals. From these spring arches of two orders each with a hollow moulding. The aisles are spanned by stone arches which serve to buttress the clerestory in addition to the flying buttresses at a higher level outside the building.
On the nave walls, delicately moulded corbels placed just above the capitals of the piers carry shafts which rise through the clerestory to moulded capitals between each clerostory window, from which spring the principal timbers of the roof structure. This is of considerable interest in itself, being a wider span than usual, and thus requiring the additional buttressing which the design incorporates. At each bay is a tie-beam, with a prominent cusped arch-brace below giving the chief character to the structure; these are traversed at wall plate level by horizontal beams which terminate in carved and polychrome angels, giving the effect of a hammerbeam roof; further angels also are placed above the clerostory window, rathor closer to the wall surface.
At the west end of the nave is a timber gallery supporting the case-less organ; in the centre a tribune projects forwards, to accommodate the console, and the detailing of the timberwork (the finials to the uprights, for example), bears the stamp of the architect of the building. The aisles, in contrast with the nave, are disappointing, the south lit by the small two-light windows seen outside, and the north (on account of the vestries) windowless and virtually featureless. At the west end of this aisle is a baptistery panelled in white marble with a centrally placed baluster font of elegant proportions.
The transepts, opening into the nave and the aisles, are symmetrical. Beyond the south transept is a small chapel in which the Blessed Sacrament is reserved, and the architecture is distinguished by stone shafts set against the walls, carrying arch-braces similar to those in the nave but on a much more intimate scale. The flanking lights of the east window have stained glass, and the floor is tiled.
The chancel arch is supported on attached shafts, and is tall enough to allow a view of most of the roof structure, which is similar to that of the nave, with arch-braces and polychrome angels bearing shiells. The principal rafters are carried on attached shafts similar to those in the nave, save that here they reach to the floor, there being no arcade. On the south side is an arch opening into the chapel and on the north is a corresponding blind arch within which is a stone tablet to Mrs. Elizabeth Mason who paid so generously for the building of the church and towards its endowment. The sanctuary is lit by a window in the north wall, the large lights of the east window being filled with colourful stained glass which is a striking feature of the church well set off by the plain white walls. The floor, like that of the bartistery, is paved with white marble, and the steps are of black marble; there is a piscina in the south wall.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
The high altar is a plain table.
Pulpit
The pulpit as a canted panelled front, the octagonal upright members terminating at the lower end in octagonal corbels; of oak, presumably by Warre.
Lectern
The lectern, of oak, and presumably by Warre, with a revolving desk on octagonal stem.
Font (object)
The font is of red sandstone, with the same features as the other furnishings by Warre.
Organ (object)
1908
The organ is of 1908, by T.C.Lewis, said to be have been made for the Japanese Exhibition in that year; it has no case, and the two manuals are governed by tubular-pneumatic action.
Churchyard
Grid reference: TQ 349 935
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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