Highams Park: All Saints
Overview
Grid reference: TQ 387 919
The church is built of stock bricks of various colours with stone dressings, and the roofs are covered with hand-made clay tiles. The style of the church owes much to architects like Bodley and Tapper who sought to continue the traditional style of Gothic in a sympathetic way.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Only the nave was built, and this consists of six aisled bays with north and south porches at the west bay and a small projection westwards as a baptistery. Vestries were added at the south-east in 1967.
Dimensions:
The church is large, even in its unfinished state, about 90 ft. by 45 ft.
Description of Archaeology and History
By Hoare and Wheeler of Orchard Street, London W., built by Dove Brothers of Islington. The church cost £5,838 (£3,000 of which came from the Bishop of St. Albans' Fund). The foundation stone was laid in 1911, and the church was consecrated on 25th July 1912 by the Bishop of St. Albans in whose Diocese it then stood.
Exterior Description
The church is built of stock bricks of various colours with stone dressings, and the roofs are covered with hand-made clay tiles. The style of the church owes much to architects like Bodley and Tapper who sought to continue the traditional style of Gothic in a sympathetic way.
The varied colours of the bricks used in the walling of the exterior makes an attractive effect, and this is continued in the tiles of the roof. The windows throughout are in a free Gothic style, those in the aisles being of three lights while the west window has seven; the east window is still a temporary rectangle.
A distinctive feature of the church is the way in which the buttresses project above the eaves of the roof and are cross gabled. This is not enough, however, to break the huge expanse which results from the roof covering the aisles as well as the nave.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
1921
The only stained glass is in the small west window in the baptistery, of two lights representing The Good Shepherd and St. Agnes.
Interior
Interior Description
The interior is a large rectangular space, the aisles proving to be little more than passages. The high scissor beamed roof has closely set rafters giving almost the impression of a wagon vault. The principals rest on attached columns which mark each bay of the nave. Between these are the wide arches of the arcade, rising high enough to allow much light into the church from the aisle windows. The aisles themselves are crossed by stone arches at each bay, a refined detail.
The east end is arranged as best it may be, the end bay forming the chancel which is divided from the nave by a low screen of pale oak. All the fittings within this are of the same wood which does not suit the present building. The vestry is entered from the east end of the south aisle and the organ occupies the opposite arch in the north aisle. Each side of the reredos the east wall is panelled with simple oak panelling.
Fixtures and fittings
Reredos
1915
The stone reredos of three bays came from Wiveliscombe in Somerset in 1915.
Organ (object)
The organ has electric action and a detached console, with two manuals and pedals and fourteen speaking stops. Originally by Monk and Gunther, now in the hands of Spurden Rutt.
Pulpit
c.1880
The pulpit was installed in 1953, but dates from c.1880. It is of oak, sixteen-sided with panels carved with foliage and crockotted pinnacles between. It is supported on a forest of colonettes.
Font (object)
The font is square and tapering with canted corners, given by the children of the parish.
Churchyard
Grid reference: TQ 387 919
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 | No |
| Solar Thermal Panels | No |
| Biomass | No |
| Wind Turbine | No |
| Air Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ev Charging | No |
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
Quinquennial Inspections
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