Weight: 384 lbs Diameter: 25" Bell 1 of 1
Founded by Mears & Stainbank 1967
Dove Bell ID: 56055 Tower ID: 21257 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
St Thomas Kensal Road
Overview
Grid reference: TQ 242 822
The church was built in 1967 to designs by Romilly Craze. (The foundation stone was laid on 8 April 1967). It replaced a church which had been built in 1889 to designs by Demaine and Brierley of York.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Simply a rectangle, of six bays with west gallery and south porch and vestries. The church is attached to the Vicarage at the west end; north-west bell turret.
Description of Archaeology and History
The church was built in 1967 to designs by Romilly Craze. (The foundation stone was laid on 8 April 1967). It replaced a church which had been built in 1889 to designs by Demaine and Brierley of York. The funds had been provided by the amalgamation of St. Thomas in the Liberty of the Rolls with St. Dunstan in the West in 1866, which provided £713.5.6 towards the total cost of £6,000. The builder was Thomas Gregory of Clapham Junction. It was an ordinary church in the Early English style, of brick with stone dressings, and was closed after damage by blast in 1940. Late in 1941 the derelict remains were burnt out by fire, which gutted and destroyed the roof. For many years it remained derelict until the remains were demolished to build the new church on the site. Only the foundation stone survives, in a new position.
Exterior Description
The church is rectangular, with brick facings to the walls externally and a parapet of reconstituted stone decorated with a simple motif which suggests battlements. The windows are placed at clerestory level, save in the sanctuary where larger triple lights filled with stained glass come lower in the wall. All the windows have plain surrounds of reconstituted stone. The east wall is blind with a low-pitched gable also surmounted by a parapet with the same design as that above the side walls , and the west wall is mostly obscured by the vicarage which abuts at this point. On the blind east wall is a representation in fibre glass by A.W. Banks representing St. Thomas with the Heavenly City in clouds above and a seven-headed monster beneath his feet. The south vestries have plain rectangular windows and a doorway at the past end communicating with the church. The north-west bell turret is rectangular in plan with concrete louvres to east and west and louvres divided by vertical strips on the north, making a pattern of squares. The low-pitched lead-covered roof is surmounted by an iron cross. Beside the main entrance of the church, at the north-west end of the north wall is a rectangular area of Portland stone inscribed with the name of the building, and this and the doorway are sheltered by a narrow ledge.
Interior
Interior Description
The main doorway leads into the space beneath the west gallery, where the font is placed, and double doors at the far side communicate with a lobby giving access to the gallery stairs and the study of the Vicarage. The interior wall surfaces are of concrete save for a slab in the centre of the east end, and this forms the background for a second fibre glass sculpture representing Christ in Majesty. The lower parts of the side walls are divided into bays as though aisles have been intended (although they were not, the Retreat House at Woking has a chapel virtually identical to this church where these areas are pierced by windows). The floor is of reconstituted tiles, with a step at the sanctuary and a footpace for the altar. More recently, however, a nave altar has been provided further west, displacing the communion rails. The only stained glass is in the two larger windows of the sanctuary and the organ is placed in the west gallery. The low pitched roof has wood boards spaced apart for acoustic purposes, and is crossed at each bay by the concrete framing of the structure.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
Wood, designed by Romilly Craze in a simple style.
Rail
Wood, designed by Romilly Craze in a simple style.
Stall
Wood, designed by Romilly Craze in a simple style.
Font (object)
The stone font is octagonal with an incised band of fishes and was designed by Craze together with the cover.
Organ (object)
The organ is by Bevington, a small one manual tracker instrument with six speaking stops rebuilt by Gray and Davison in 1966.
Bells
Churchyard
Grid reference: TQ 242 822
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
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.