Peckham: St Andrew
Overview
Grid reference: TQ 340 774
Although in detail less idiosyncratic, this church shares with Keeling's other buildings a waywardness with the Gothic forms. Some comparisons may therefore be useful in placing this church in the context of his work . His other churches in London are (or were) St. George, Campden Hill in Kensington, St. Mark, Notting Dale (also in Kensington), and St. Paul, Penge (now demolished). Their common features are large west windows and asymmettrically placed towers.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Unconventional; the nave has a west narthex and west gallery, the tower standing at the north-west corner; on the north side is an aisle and then a transept, these being complemented on the south side by an aisleless wall and then a pair of arches opening into a pseudo-aisle which is no more than a passage from a door behind the pulpit to the sacristy on the south side of the chancel. In the north side of the chancel is a former organ chamber, now a chapel of remembracne, and the chancel itself has an east apse.
Description of Archaeology and History
By E. Bassett Keeling, (1836-1886); the foundation stone was laid on 17th December 1864 and the consecration took place on 23rd October 1865.
Exterior Description
Although in detail less idiosyncratic, this church shares with Keeling's other buildings a waywardness with the Gothic forms. The west front of St. Andrew's, Peckham, is dominated by two prominent features; the first is the north-west tower, with an imposing doorway at the foot, and the second is the large three-light west window.
The doorway in the tower consists of two arches beneath a two-centred outer arch, the tympanum left uncarved. The heavy moulded stringcourse above is thrust up by the head of the arch to form a gablet almost like a pediment, while a similarly strong stringcourse at a lower level is returned on each side to look like the capitals of low responds. The next stage is lit by two lancet lights in the west face, and the stage above by three lancets in each face. The belfry stage has typically large bell openings, each of two lights under an angular moulding with a blind roundel in the spandrel.
The south wall of the nave is of six bays, the four towards the east with paired lancets surmounted by three small roundels and a larger quatrefoil within a circle, typically wilful. The two western bays, within which the gallery stands, have simply the three roundels and the quatrefoil. The vestry under the gallery is lit by three lancets in each of these bays. Tall buttresses with steeply sloping shoulders rise almost to the eaves, pierced near the foot by arches giving the effect of an arcade loading from the west end of the church to the doorway in the west wall of the south aisle. This aisle, if it may be called so, is simply a two-bay passage to balance (though far from symmetrical) the north transept.
The north transept is almost as tall as the nave and has in the north gable two two-light windows similar to those in the south wall of the nave; in addition there is a large roundel above with four circles and four quatrefoils. The north aisle is low, with a continuous run of tiny lancet lights and above that the clerestory has paired lancets of larger scale. Thus the tower is again reached.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
1954
Five lancets of the eastern apse; this is by Alfred Wilkinson, 1954, and represents Christ flanked by St. Peter and St. Andrew, St. John and St. James.
Interior
Interior Description
Asymmetry is naturally even more pronounced inside the building, where the north and south walls together may be assimilated and compared. The west gallery, as with other churches by Keeling, is integrated with the fabric, and is supported on his favoured cast-iron coloumns with notched capitals, now concealed by the partitions which form two vestries under the gallery. The front has panels pierced with hard Geometrical patterns. The door which gives access from the stair in the tower has a hoodmould of notched bricks partly obscured by the north wall of the nave.
The north wall of the nave is of five bays, of which the western is modified to fit the gallery, the arcade being compressed to form an arch much less than half the width of its companions. All are carried on short ringed shafts of granite, formerly polished and now painted white like the rest of the walls. Two capitals remain uncarved and the other three are carved with foliage. The last is in fact spread over two adjoining capitals since the respond of the transept arch domands a double colum at this point. The arches are of two unmoulded orders outlined, like all the windows in the church, with hoods of notched bricks. The wall-surface in the spandrels was once relieved by a herringbone pattern of bricks, but this too has been obliterated by whitewash. The paired clerestory lights run in rhythm with the arcade save for the west bay, which is in any case disturbed by the gallery. The north wall of the aisle is pierced by a continuous row of lancets.
The north transept is separated from the transept by two arches carried on a central square column with a foliated capital. The arches being tall and narrow, and the column short in order to match those of the north arcade, a vertical strip of masonry is introduced above the capital.
The south side of the nave is entirely different from the north in every respect. As was evident from outside, there is no aisle for the majority of its length, and then one appears where on the north side there is a transept. There is a blind area of wall below a stringcourse, and above that a series of clear-glazed windows. The aisle is of two bays, with cylindrical ringed shafts similar to those carrying the north arcade. Two capitals (those of the responds) have foliage, and the third (of the central column) has three scenes from the " Raising of Lazarus", carved in 1884. These columns screen a passage from a small doorway (leading to the garden of the former Vicarage) to the sacristy south of the chancel. The roof of the nave is a continuous panelled timber vault divided into three uneven bays by notched archbraces; bay roofs the gallery, the next the majority of the nave and the third the space between the north transept and the south aisle. Each arch-brace is in fact hollow, and purely decorative; they are supported on tiny colonettes above splayed corbels; both the corbels and the capitals of the colonettes were to have been carved.
The chancel arch is very wide, of two orders. The inner order is carried on small colonettes of marble, with foliated capitals, the corbels on which they stand carved as angels with scrolls.
The chancel again is not symmetrical, although at first glance it appears so. It stands four steps higher than the nave, and has two arches (one opening into the organ chamber) on the north and three arches on the south at a higher level. Over those on the north are four quatrefoil lights within an arch while there is no window on the south. The reason for this seems to be purposely to create a darker space between the nave and the sanctuary, an effect very pronounced in Keeling's watercolour drawing. The roof again is panelled.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
The altar is of oak
Altar Cross
The altar cross is of brass, and dates from 1894, a stock design with various semi-precious stones inset, some missing.
Font (object)
The font is a simple short drum supporting a cylindrical bowl, with some simple mouldings at the head and foot of the stem.
Pulpit
The pulpit is the most important piece of furniture in the church, and is quite remarkable in design. It is five- sided, with one open side for access and one with a simple arched panel. The three faces visible to the congregation, however, are lavishly decorated with half-length figures in marquetry of Christ in anattitude of welcome flanked by Elias and Moses with the tablets. The whole structure is supported on colonettes with foliated capitals, and various types of wood including oak and pale mahogany are used in the construction.
Lectern
The lectern is an eagle of oak.
Organ (object)
The organ is a two-manual instrument with seven speaking stops by Cousans of Lincoln, with tracker action.
Churchyard
Grid reference: TQ 340 774
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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