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Free Church, Hampstead Garden Suburb facts for kids

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Free Church, Hampstead Garden Suburb
Free Church, Hampstead Garden Suburb.jpg
Country United Kingdom
Denomination United Reformed Church/Baptist

The Free Church is an important building in Hampstead Garden Suburb, London. It was designed by a famous architect, Sir Edwin Lutyens. Construction began in 1911. This church is a Grade I listed building. This means it is a very important historical building. It is just like St Jude's Church, which is also in the same area.

History of the Free Church

How the Church Started

At first, Christians in Hampstead Garden Suburb met together. They decided in 1909 to have separate meetings. These were for the Church of England and the Free Church. The Free Church started meeting in 1909. It was officially founded in 1910. This was before the church building was even finished.

Building the Church

Work on the Free Church building began on January 16, 1911. It opened for people to worship on October 25 of that same year. However, the West end of the church was not fully finished until the 1960s. Sir Edwin Lutyens designed the church. He was the main architect for the Central Square of Hampstead Garden Suburb. He started this role in 1906. He helped design the entire square. This included both the Free Church and St Jude's Church.

Architecture and Design

Hampstead Garden Suburb Free Church Interior 2
An interior view of the church, showing the altar, organ and dome

Key Features of the Building

The Free Church has a unique low concrete dome. This is different from the tall spire of St Jude's Church. Inside, you can see Tuscan columns. These columns have brick bases. The ceiling is shaped like a barrel vault. This means it is curved like the inside of a barrel.

Interior Colors and Memorials

The inside of the church is decorated with soft, light colors. These are often called pastel colors. The church also has two special panels. These panels are war memorials. They were designed by an artist named Percy Delf Smith. They help us remember people who served in wars.

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