Nominal: 721.5 Hz Weight: 1698 lbs Diameter: 43.5" Bell 1 of 8
Founded by Mears & Stainbank 1870
Dove Bell ID: 3039 Tower ID: 15618 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
St Paul Hammersmith
Overview
Grid reference: TQ 233 784
This large Victorian Gothic church stands in a rare open space in the oldest part of Hammersmith on Queen Caroline Street, the tall north-east tower with its slender pinnacles a notable local landmark. Built in 1882-91 by the Chamberlain Brothers, designed by J P Seddon and H R Gough as a new parish church for Hammersmith following the development of the area in the wake of the railway. It replaced an early 17th-century chapel-of-ease on the site, the first place of worship here, as Hammersmith had previously been part of the parish of Fulham.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
6-bay aisled nave, 2-bay chancel, south chapel and north organ chamber and vestry, tower to north-east, north and south porches, west polygonal baptistery.
Dimensions:
Nave approx 36m (120 ft) x 9m (30ft).
Footprint of Church buildings: 1198 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
Built in 1882-91 by the Chamberlain Brothers, designed by J P Seddon and H R Gough as a new parish church for Hammersmith following the development of the area in the wake of the railway. It replaced an early 17th-century chapel-of-ease on the site, the first place of worship here, as Hammersmith had previously been part of the parish of Fulham. Many of the monuments and other furnishings and fittings were brought in to the new building from the chapel after its demolition. The site is therefore of high archaeological sensitivity and potential.
Exterior Description
The church is designed in the Early English style, narrow and tall, with additional vertical emphasis provided by the tall and slim 4-stage pinnacled tower. This has a clock in each face below the belfry stage, which is pierced by tall twin lancets with louvres. Lancets are used throughout, paired in the aisles but triplets in the clearstorey with the exception of the west bay which has paired lancets again. There is a stepped 4-light in the west end and 3-light in the east end. The nave and chancel form one long hall of equal height and width. The aisles have buttresses of two weatherings defining the bays, pilasters in the clearstorey to a plain corbel table. All gables are coped and have cross finials, this providing the only external demarcation between nave and chancel. There is a low polygonal baptistery projecting below the west window, with lancets in the side walls.
Building Materials
Stone
Coursed pink rubblestone with ashlar dressings
Interior
Interior Description
The architecture of the interior is of high quality, with arcades of polished black granite octofoil piers with moulded capitals supporting deeply moulded pointed arches, between which shafts with annulets rise to moulded corbels to the wooden cross-ribbed barrel vault roof. The clearstorey windows and end windows also have rere-shafts, taken down to the string-course at the apex of the arcade. The chancel arch is a larger version of the arcade arches but with dog-tooth amongst the arch mouldings, a motif repeated in the side arches to the chancel. The nave floor is of woodblock, with five steps up to the chancel.
There is a 4-bay sedilia under trefoiled arches in the east bay of the chancel south wall, the opposite bay is blind stonework. The sanctuary floor is of encaustic tiles, with two single marble steps leading up to the altar, behind which the focus at the east end is provided by a triptych reredos with paintings of St Peter and St Paul, with angels in the arch heads praising Christ in Glory in the head of the central arch over a large brass cross.
The aisle and chancel walls still carry a fine collection of 17th- and 18th-century monuments from the former chapel-of-ease, as well as some interesting 19th- and 20th-century tablets and plaques.
Fixtures and fittings
Sedilia
4-bay sedilia under trefoiled arches in the east bay of the chancel south wall
Plaque (object)
A fine brass plaque to W Tierney Clark, the designer of the first suspension bridge over the Thames at Hammersmith complete with the profile of this important local landmark.
Reredos
A triptych reredos with paintings of St Peter and St Paul, with angels in the arch heads praising Christ in Glory in the head of the central arch over a large brass cross against a red cloth background.
Bells
Nominal: 1451.5 Hz Weight: 560 lbs Diameter: 28" Bell 2 of 8
Founded by Thomas II Mears 1813
Dove Bell ID: 23366 Tower ID: 15618 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: quarter Cracked: No
Nominal: 1363.5 Hz Weight: 616 lbs Diameter: 29.75" Bell 3 of 8
Founded by Thomas II Mears 1813
Dove Bell ID: 23367 Tower ID: 15618 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: quarter Cracked: No
Nominal: 1188.5 Hz Weight: 672 lbs Diameter: 31.25" Bell 4 of 8
Founded by Ellis I Knight 1657
Dove Bell ID: 23368 Tower ID: 15618 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: quarter Cracked: No
Nominal: 1072.5 Hz Weight: 700 lbs Diameter: 32.25" Bell 5 of 8
Founded by Ellis I Knight 1639
Dove Bell ID: 23369 Tower ID: 15618 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: quarter Cracked: No
Nominal: 953 Hz Weight: 924 lbs Diameter: 34" Bell 6 of 8
Founded by Ellis I Knight 1639
Dove Bell ID: 23370 Tower ID: 15618 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: quarter Cracked: No
Nominal: 893 Hz Weight: 1036 lbs Diameter: 37" Bell 7 of 8
Founded by Ellis I Knight 1639
Dove Bell ID: 23371 Tower ID: 15618 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: quarter Cracked: No
Nominal: 797 Hz Weight: 1260 lbs Diameter: 40.5" Bell 8 of 8
Founded by Ellis I Knight 1639
Dove Bell ID: 23372 Tower ID: 15618 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: quarter Cracked: No
Churchyard
Grid reference: TQ 233 784
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 | Yes |
| 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
Showing 9 entries of 9 View All
Quinquennial Inspections
Submit a change
If you notice something incorrect or missing, please explain it in the form below and submit it to our team for review.