Bournemouth: St Paul
Overview
Grid reference: SZ 96 918
Built of whitish-grey Purbeck stone, laid in regular courses, with roof coverings of tiles. The most pleasant aspect of the church is approached from the south or south-west, where the broad and massive proportions of the tower group well with the long sweep of the nave roof and the south transept.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Nave with north aisle of almost equal width, south-west porch; south transept; 'crossing' tower with north and south gabled projections, and attached to the southern transept is a further porch; apsidal sanctuary.
Description of Archaeology and History
By A.H. Parker (1881-7). The spire, now demolished was by Sidney Tugwell, 1901-3.
Exterior Description
Built of whitish-grey Purbeck stone, laid in regular courses, with roof coverings of tiles.
The most pleasant aspect of the church is approached from the south or south-west, where the broad and massive proportions of the tower group well with the long sweep of the nave roof and the south transept. At the west is a timbered link with the vicarage, and the principal entrance to the church is through the lofty and steeply gabled porch at the west end. East of the porch, in the south wall steeply gabled porch at the west end of the nave are four pairs of plain lancets with a string course running beneath them. This cannot be called an exciting way of breaking up a wall surface, but in this respect it is no match for the north wall of the north aisle which is punctuated by a solemn series of monotonously placed lancets, eleven in all. The south transeptal projection has two lancet lights, this time with hoodmoulds and the further quasi-transeptal projection flanking the tower has a porch with two quatrofoil openings in the west wall. The architect's deployment of the vocabulary of Early English architecture is, therefore, readily appreciated to be modest.
The apse is canted, with seven sides in all, a single lancet in each. The tower is broader north-south than east-west, with clasping buttresses at the corners which terminate in substantial pinnacles with gables on all four at food corners and a bristling finial on top. The silhouette is further enlivened by an intermediary pinnacle on the north and south sides, and by two intermediary pinnacles on the east and west sides. In 1901-3, to commemorate the reign of Queen Victoria, a lofty stone spire was erected and the townscape and environmental impact of the building must have been considerably greater until the spire had to be dismantled in 1966.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
The three central windows of the apse have glass of good quality by Clayton & Bell.
Stained Glass
1907
In the south lancets of the nave is a series of windows which appear to be by the firm of Kempe and Tower. The first two lancets counting from the east represent St. Paul and St. Barnabas and were a memorial to Henry C. Borrows, a missionary in China, (died 1905) and were erected by his brother (who was Vicar of the parish) in 1907.
Interior
Interior Description
The interior is vast and cavernous. The nave is divided from the north aisle by an arcade of six bays, consisting of circular stone piers with exuberant carved naturalistic foliage on the capitals. The arcade arches are of red brick, as are the window arches, tower arches, string courses, and other points of emphasis; the rain walls are, however, lined with bricks of yellowish-grey colour similar to the 19th century London stock brick.
Fixtures and fittings
Lectern
Brass eagle.
Pulpit
1860s
Pine
Stall
1860s
Pine
Font (object)
A tub-shaped bowl, with corner projections. The stem, like the abaci of the arcade piers, has been painted a bright red.
Reredos
A carved relief of the Last Supper.
Organ (object)
Three manual
Pew (object)
Pine
Churchyard
Grid reference: SZ 96 918
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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