St Barnabas Church, Gloucester facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Barnabas Church |
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| 51°50′26″N 2°14′35″W / 51.840634°N 2.242951°W | |
| Location | Gloucester, Gloucestershire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | Gloucester |
| Diocese | Gloucester |
St Barnabas Church is a special old building in Gloucester, England. It's located on Stroud Road. This church was built between 1938 and 1940. It is officially recognized as a Grade II listed building. This means it's an important historical building that needs to be protected. The church belongs to the Church of England.
Contents
History of St Barnabas Church
How the Church Started
In the early 1900s, more and more people moved to the Tuffley area of Gloucester. Because of this, a new church area, called the "Tuffley Conventional District," was created in 1907. This new area mostly came from the nearby St Paul's Parish. It also included parts of Matson and Hempstead.
The Tuffley School moved to a new building. Its old building, built in 1881, then became a church. It was officially dedicated to Saint Barnabas. Saint Barnabas was a friend who traveled with Saint Paul.
Temporary Churches and Fundraising
By the time World War I started, the old school building was too small. Many people wanted to attend church. However, building a new, permanent church was too expensive after the war. So, in 1922, a large wooden building was put up next to the old school. This wooden building became the temporary St Barnabas Church. This building is still there today. It is used for different church activities.
In 1930, St Barnabas became its own independent church area, called a parish. The first vicar, or church leader, was Rev. Thomas W. Lambert. He started raising money to build a permanent stone church.
Building the Permanent Church
The stone church you see today was designed by an architect named Nugent Cachemaille-Day. It was built from 1938 to 1940. The church was built in a traditional style. It also has some features from Gothic Revival architecture. Its main structure is made from a strong material called reinforced concrete. This new church replaced both the temporary wooden church and another church called St Aldate Church.
Repairs After a Fire
In June 1997, a part of the church called the choir vestry caught fire. A vestry is a room where clergy and choir members get ready. The church needed repairs and updates. These repairs were finished in June 2002. The money for the repairs came from church members and local groups. A big grant from English Heritage also helped.
Architecture of St Barnabas Church
Building Materials and Style
The church is built using a type of strong material called C20 concrete. It has a traditional shape. You can see some Gothic style details around the windows. The design of the church was influenced by something called the Liturgical Movement. This movement focused on how churches should be designed for worship. The builders used both old and new materials. To connect the new church with history, stones from Gloucester Cathedral and Tewkesbury Abbey were placed in the east wall. This is near the main altar.
The church has strong reinforced frames inside. The outside walls are made of brick. The window frames are made of concrete. The roof of the church is flat.
The Belfry Tower
On the southwest side of the church, there is a single belfry tower. A belfry tower is a tower where bells are often kept. On top of this tower, there is a concrete crucifix. A crucifix is a cross with a figure of Jesus. The east and west sides of the tower have supporting parts called corbels. Corbels are pieces of stone or wood sticking out from a wall to support something. The tower has two windows on each of its four sides.
Inside St Barnabas Church
Layout of the Building
You enter the church on the northwest side. This leads you into a small entrance area called a porch. From the porch, you go into the largest part of the church. This is a long, rectangular room called the nave. The nave is where the main congregation sits.
On the north side of the building, there is a smaller room called the chapel. Rooms called vestries are located on the east side. Vestries are often used by the clergy and choir. At the south end of the building, you will find the pulpit. The pulpit is a raised stand where sermons are given. Near the pulpit are the altar and the chancel. The altar is the table used for communion. The chancel is the area around the altar. Above this area, inside the belfry tower, is the organ loft. This is where the church organ is located.
