Reading: St Stephen
Overview
Grid reference: SU 729 733
The church has a nave and chancel with pitched roofs of almost equal height, no clerestory and relatively tall lean-to aisles. The rich red brickwork is variegated with regular, narrow, and horizontal bands of grey stone.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Nave and chancel, north and south aisles, north-east organ chamber, south-east Lady chapel and north porch.
Exterior Description
The church has a nave and chancel with pitched roofs of almost equal height, no clerestory and relatively tall lean-to aisles. The rich red brickwork is variegated with regular, narrow, and horizontal bands of grey stone. On the west front the flat wall surface is broken up by thin pilaster buttresses and at the top of the wall is a small bell-cote containing two bells.
Interior
Interior Description
Internally the warm red colour of the bricks is even more striking. All the wall surfaces are of this material (ornamented in.places with large painted texts) as are the arcades of the nave. The columns of the south arcade are octagonal, those on the north circular; the capitals of the latter have charming naturalistic floral carving. The roof of the nave is of the king-post type, steeply pitched, and sits directly on top of the arcade; between the rafters it is boarded and painted white. Over the easternmost bay of the nave a dormer window is let into the roof on each side; possibly these were added at the same time as the south aisle. The chancel is a continuation of the nave both in the profile of the roof and in the materials used. The south chapel, added in 1886, has a boarded wagon roof and the rich glass by Powell makes this the most telling part of an otherwise friendly but un-mysterious building.
Fixtures and fittings
Pulpit
Carved wood on a stone base
Stall
Choir stalls.
Reredos
1907
A wooden reredos spans the whole of the west wall. and obscures part of the west window. The central section is a rough copy of Leonardo's Last Supper in rather gaudy mosaic. On each side of this arc the Decalogue and Lord's Prayer in gold lettering on panels with cusped heads.
Screen
Of wrought iron, very spiky and high church.
Organ (object)
1892
By Monk of London.
Churchyard
Grid reference: SU 729 733
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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