St Michael and All Angels, Bedford Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Michael and All Angels |
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| The Parish Church of St Michael and All Angels | |
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| 51°29′46″N 0°15′17″W / 51.4961°N 0.2548°W | |
| Location | Bath Road Chiswick, London |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Anglo-Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architect(s) | Norman Shaw |
| Style | Queen Anne revival Perpendicular Gothic |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Red brick, stone facings |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St Michael and All Angels Bedford Park |
| Deanery | Hounslow |
| Archdeaconry | Middlesex |
| Diocese | London |
St Michael and All Angels is a special Church of England church located in Bedford Park, Chiswick. It is known as a parish church, which means it serves the local community. The famous architect Norman Shaw designed this church. He also designed many of the houses in the Bedford Park area.
The church was officially opened in 1880. Its design mixes two styles: the British Queen Anne Revival and Perpendicular Gothic. The services held here follow the Anglo-Catholic tradition. This church is so important that it is a Grade II* listed building.
Contents
History of St Michael's Church
Building the Church
St Michael and All Angels started in 1876 as a temporary building. It was on Chiswick High Road, not where it stands today. The current church is at the corner of Turnham Green Terrace and Bath Road. It is close to Turnham Green tube station.
The architect Norman Shaw designed the church. He was the main architect for the Bedford Park estate. He designed many early houses there using red brick and white wood. This style is called British Queen Anne Revival. Shaw decided to use a similar style for the church. The red bricks came from local areas.
One expert, James Stevens Curl, says the church's style is "Perpendicular Gothic with seventeenth- and eighteenth-century domestic features." He also noted that the church's wooden parts were once painted light green. The first stone was laid on May 31, 1879. The church was officially opened on April 17, 1880.
In 1887, the church's first churchwarden, Maurice Bingham Adams, added a North aisle. He also built the church hall next to the church. Its red brick matched the church's style. Adams also added the font and the pulpit. Later, in 1909, he added the Chapel of All Souls. This chapel was built in a more Gothic style.
Promoting Bedford Park
Jonathan Carr developed the Bedford Park estate. He asked artist F. Hamilton Jackson to create pictures to promote the area. One important picture showed the church, even before it was finished.
The estate was advertised to people with average incomes. It was for those who liked beautiful things. The advertisements talked about gardens, hot and cold water, and schools. They also mentioned the church, a club, shops, and a pub called 'The Tabard Inn'.
Remembering War Heroes
The church has two war memorials. Both honor people from the church who died in the First World War.
One memorial is inside, next to the main rood screen. It was planned to be a wooden carving of Cavalry. This carving was placed above the choir screen. It was unveiled on September 28, 1918. A bronze plaque with the names of 91 fallen soldiers was added in 1919.
The other memorial is outside the church, near the church hall. It is a curved stone bench. This memorial is also a Grade II listed building. Inigo Triggs designed it around 1920. It honors local people who died in the First World War. In the 1960s, the original nameplates were stolen. New engraved stone plates were put in when the memorial was moved. In 2021, some of these new nameplates were stolen again.
Church Restoration
During the Second World War, a bomb damaged the church's roof and stained glass windows. The bomb destroyed the nearby Chiswick Polytechnic. In 1952, Lawrence Lee created new stained glass for the East Window. The church's outside and roof were repaired in 1980. In 2013, a five-year project to replace the church organ was finished. The new organ has 1667 pipes and 25 stops. It was made by a Swiss company.
St Michael's Today
On July 11, 1951, St Michael and All Angels church was named a Grade II* listed building. This means it is a very important historical building.
The church continues to follow the Anglo-Catholic tradition within the Church of England.
Images for kids
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The South front, on to Bath Road
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Southeastern corner in autumn light
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Church hall adjoining the church
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Entrance
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Nave with choir practice
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First World War memorial beside the main rood screen
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External semicircular stone war memorial by Inigo Triggs, c. 1920
