St Alban's Church, Acton Green facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Alban's Church, Acton Green |
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| St Alban the Martyr | |
From the East
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| 51°29′45″N 00°15′47″W / 51.49583°N 0.26306°W | |
| Location | South Parade Acton Green, London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Founded | 1887 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architect(s) | Edward Monson, Jr. |
| Style | Neo-Gothic |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Red brick, stone dressings |
| Administration | |
| Archdeaconry | Middlesex |
| Diocese | London |
St Alban's Church, also known as St Alban the Martyr, is a historic church located on South Parade in Acton Green, West London. It was designed by Edward Monson Jr. and first opened its doors in 1888.
Contents
A Look Back at St Alban's
Building the Church
St Alban's Church was designed by an architect named Edward Monson Jr. He created it in a style called neo-Gothic. This means it looks like older Gothic churches but was built more recently. The church is made from red bricks with special stone details. It has a roof that slopes steeply and is covered with slate. You might notice it doesn't have a tall tower or a belfry for bells.
The first stone for the church was placed on October 18, 1887. The church officially opened its doors in 1888. Today, it is a very important building in the Acton Green area. The church building is also a Grade II listed site. This means it is a special historic building that is protected.
Interesting Features
Inside the church, you can find beautiful stained glass windows. Three of these were made by an artist named Frederick Hamilton Jackson. One of these windows shows "Jesus and the Doctors." It was given to the church by Blanche Rose Harper in 1888.
Next to the church, there used to be a green building made of corrugated iron. This type of building is sometimes called a "tin tabernacle." It was used for special church services until 1938. Also nearby is "The Caterpillar" Montessori nursery school.
A Church Reborn
Over time, fewer people attended the church, and it closed in 2007. For seven years, the building stood empty. In 2011, some developers wanted to turn the church into apartments. However, many people in the community did not want this to happen.
In 2013, a public meeting was held to discuss the church's future. The plan to turn it into flats was stopped. The reason was that the community needed the church building for local activities.
In 2014, St Alban's Church reopened and became active again. It is now part of the Christ Church W4 ministry. The building was carefully restored. New features were added, like solar panels on the roof to help with energy. A new heating system was installed, along with new kitchen and toilet facilities. They even added nest boxes for swifts, which are small birds.
On October 4, 2016, the Bishop of London, Richard Chartres, officially rededicated the renovated church. This marked its return to being an important part of the community.
Images for kids
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Dedication stone to Saint Alban the martyr, laid by E. Montague Nelson, J.P., on 18 October 1887. It records that Rev. George Henley Manbey was the vicar-designate, that Edward Monson, Jr. was the architect, and that Joseph Dorey was the builder.
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The church and school
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