Diameter: 11.88" Bell 1 of 2
1827
Dove Bell ID: 58831 Tower ID: 22802 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Plymouth: St Simon
Diocese of Exeter
Church, 615627
http://www.sacredheartplymouth.co.ukOverview
Grid reference: SX 495 552
Town church of 1903-5 by Harbottle Reed, influenced by Caröe with strong Arts and Crafts feel. Nave with north and south aisles, chancel, north chapel, south organ chamber, undercroft. Not completed to original design. Adjoining hall in same style, and vicarage.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Nave with north and south aisles, chancel, north chapel, south organ chamber.
Dimensions:
[Approximate] Nave 15m 50ft) x 6m (19ft), chancel 10m (33ft)
Footprint of Church buildings: 719 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
The first mission centre was in a house in Durham Avenue. Congregation growth led to construction of a mission hall at the corner of Salisbury Road and Durham Avenue. Decision was taken to create a new parish and church in 1900. The first site bought (off Salisbury Road – Baptist church build there instead) was sold off as too small. Constructed brick hall first to be used as church until building completed, designed by Harbottle Reed, foundation stone laid 12 June 1901, opened later that year. Foundation stone for church laid 8 November 1905 by the Archbishop of Canterbury. It was designed to seat about 750 worshippers, and consecrated in 1907 though unfinished. Temporary iron west wall until July 1957 when stone wall erected, with stone sourced from Granby barracks. Original plans included a bell tower on the north-east corner, a cloister, and two porches.
The chancel was furnished by the Pinwill sisters. Revd Pinwill, Rector of Ermington in Devon had seven daughters, of whom Mary, Esther and Violet set up with encouragement from their mother a firm called Rashleigh Pinwill, the main artist being Violet. Their work can to be found in over 100 churches in Devon and Cornwall. It seems likely the reredos is also Violet’s work, perhaps that in the north chapel too.
The archaeological potential of the site is low. There are no known designations relating to the ecology of the plot, though it contains mature trees as noted above.
Exterior Description
The west end has three gables terminating in stone cross finials, with big pointed windows in each, 6-light to the nave and 4-lights to the aisle ends, all with Perpendicular tracery. Central west doorway with large carved leaves and blank tracery panels, with wooden doors. This is the ‘tame Perp front’ (Pevsner) of 1956, shown on the first page; the photograph below gives a better impression of the quality and complexity of the intended design.
This “tameness” is not representative of the rest of the building, which has a pronounced Arts and Crafts feel, with segmental arched large windows with thick mullions and Flamboyant tracery, particularly the 7-light east window, 3-lights to the aisles. The Arts and Crafts inspiration is also clear in the low eaves, varied roof lines, the east end with crenellated corner turrets, chancel with south projection and flat-roofed vestry. Segmental relieving arches to the bays. Unfinished tower to north side with pyramid roof. Stone capped buttresses and eaves.
Building Fabric and Features
Nave
20th century
Aisle
20th century north
Aisle
20th century south
Chancel
20th century
Chapel (component)
20th century north
Organ (component)
20th century south chamber
Building Materials
Limestone
20th century local
Slate
20th century exterior roof
Timber
20th century interior roof
Tile
20th century glazed ridge tiles
Stone
20th century interior clad in Dulverston stone
Interior
Interior Description
Entering through the west door, the interior is expensive looking and richly detailed, a lofty, airy and well-lit space, again the Arts and Crafts inspiration is clear. The walls are clad in purple-grey Dulverton stone. The pointed arcades rise from slender clustered piers with ornately and individually carved capitals, continuing as shafts above terminating in moulded corbels which carry the fine ceiled wagon roof which runs through the chancel. Under the aisle windows are blind segmental arched niches with radiators.
The west end had a cleared lobby area, although now the nave has been cleared as part of the closure process, this is no longer apparent. There were wooden chairs in the nave, removed. Carpet along north aisle and in central nave alley, all now removed. South aisle largely cleared with an organ at the east end. A door in the south wall gives access to a stone stairway down to the undercroft with toilets and kitchen.
The chancel has angel-head corbels, with pointed arcades beneath segmental arches with carved spandrels. The sanctuary has a marble floor of black and white squares with red edges. There are two marble steps up to altar, one step up to the sanctuary.
Good oak choir stalls with carved angel figures to ends, inscribed 1932 and made by the Pinwill sisters, as may be the reredos and other woodwork. Similar altar and reredos in the north chapel. Oak panelling along the east walls.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
20th century oak table, also in north chapel
Reredos
20th century ornate carved wood reredos with carved stone figurative panels, possibly by Violet Pinwill
Pulpit
20th century Plain hexagonal coloured marble pulpit built into chancel step, inscribed 1908.
Lectern
20th century Ornate carved oak with octagonal base and buttresses and carved figure, inscribed 1923.
Font (component)
20th century octagonal stone font with pointed carved oak cover, with open carving
Rail
20th century carved wood rails
Stained Glass (window)
20th century Kempe & Co stained glass in north chapel east window (Virgin and Child) and south aisle, individual saints.
Organ (component)
19th century 1878 Hedgeland organ from St Peter Mancroft, Norwich, relocated 1912.
Bells
Diameter: 12.75" Bell 2 of 2
Dove Bell ID: 58832 Tower ID: 22802 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Portable Furnishings and Artworks
Registers dating from 1907.
Churchyard
Grid reference: SX 495 552
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
Sources
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