St Augustine Highbury
Overview
Grid reference: TQ 323 856
Built of stock brick, the west end fronts onto the road, but it is hardly an imposing facade.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Aisled nave with chancel; and incomplete south-west tower; vestries under the east end. The organ is housed in the chambers either side of the chancel at the end of the aisles.
Exterior Description
Built of stock brick, the west end fronts onto the road, but it is hardly an imposing facade. As a building, it is almost dwarfed by the large scale of the Victorian villas along the road. The nave at the west has powerfully patterned windows. A circular window, with geometricaltracery based on a cross and surrounded by twelve quatrefoils, is set in the lower part of the gable the principal windows of the west front. Each of these. has five lights, the middle one being taller and thinner. The tracery in the head is a design based on cusping and quatrefoils. A gabled, pilaster type central buttress with a small pinnacle divides these two windows.
The aisles contain small pointed arched windows, arranged in pairs. Above them is a clerestory of round windows with stylized flower patterned tracery. The incomplete tower is of three stages and stands to only half the height intended by the ambitious patron. In the lowest stage, on the west and south sides, are doorways contained beneath arches with rather unsophisticated variations on the medieval orders. In the second stage, the two-light window with a roundel above is set deep into the wall beneath arched hood moulding. The belfry stage has two pointed arched openings on all four sides. Flat angle buttresses, with set—offs of what appears to be Bath stone, support the tower at the corner. Other details of the west front are given prominence by use of a light-coloured stone, inclu'ingstring course levels and pinnacled gables. At the corner of the nave there is a stone pinnacle, executed in considerable detail, including four dogs' heads with ears laid back and tongues hanging out, like gargoyles.
The east end has one big window of five lights; the middle one being taller than the rest. Again the tracery is arresting, based on a multiplicity of-circles and crosses, with much elaborate cusping and mouchette-like patterns.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
The east window of five lights is of rich, dark glass - the centre light depicting the Crucifixion. In the head of the window are some pleasant floril details. It is thought that the glass was taken out during the war and replaced afterwards.
Stained Glass
The south aisle contains stained glass exhibitingat least three distinguishable styles. The subjects are Saints and Biblical characters. The pair of windows at the east end of the south aisle has glass that is akin to the style of Wailes of Newcastle in design and colouring. Some of the rest of the glass is quite obviously of a more modern date.
Stained Glass
The north aisle also contains a mixture of styles. The window at the far east is signed by A. Gibbs of Bloomsbury, and he would seem to have done some of the others.
Interior
Interior Description
The dark stained glass completely filling the lights and tracery of the east window provides an effective contrast, as seen from the interior, with the two clear glass windows at the west. The nave of the church is divided into five bays. Constructed within the two bays at the west is a hall, now used also for worship. If provides ample space for the needs of the parish. The lofty, steeply pitched tie-beam roof extends lengthily over the nave and chancel: the effect is rather forbidding. The arches of the nave rest on thick, banded pillars that have stiffly carved capitals and square abaci. The aisles are dark with stained glass while at clerestory level the circular windows with tracery and much patterned leading admit light through clear glass. The reredos beneath the east window is made up of white-painted plaster arcading of eleven niches stretching right across the wall. Like font and pulpit, it is touched up with gold paint; moreover the niches are filled with blue-painted hardboard. The organ pipes dominate the sides of the chancel, filling the chambers and extending out into the chancel itself. The front pipes have painted decoration, although their colours are now somewhat faded.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
The altar is of solid, carved wood. It matches the high backed choir stalls with poppy-head finials, and the richly carved Bishop's chair and Prie Dieu, north of the altar.
Altar Cross
c. 1917
On the altar is a fine silver-gilt cross of about 1917.
Lectern
Late 19th - Early 20th Century
The lectern is a brass eagle of typical late 19th-early 20th century design.
Font (object)
Next to the lectern stands the font of painted stone.
Font (component)
1887
The wood and iron font cover was presented to the church in 1887 by eighty-three ladies of the congregation.
Pulpit
The pulpit is of white-painted plaster and stone.
Organ (object)
1887
The organ is by Henry Willis & Son.
Churchyard
Grid reference: TQ 323 856
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 | Yes |
| 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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