St Paul's Church, Preston, Paignton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Paul's Church |
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Church of England |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Active |
| Year consecrated | 1939 |
| Location | |
| Location | Preston, Paignton, Devon, England |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Nugent Cachemaille-Day |
| Architectural type | Church |
St Paul's Church is a Church of England church located in Preston, a part of Paignton, Devon, England. It was designed by a famous architect named Nugent Cachemaille-Day and built between 1938 and 1939. This church serves the local community and is an important part of Preston's history.
Contents
A Look Back: How St Paul's Began
Preston started as a small village but grew into a busy suburb of Paignton in the late 1800s and early 1900s. As more people moved in, the community needed a place to worship. Around 1904, a small mission room was set up for church services.
Soon, a temporary church called St Paul's was built in 1909. It was like a smaller, helper church for the main Christ Church nearby. This first temporary church could hold about 200 people.
However, even more space was quickly needed! So, in 1912, a second temporary church was built right next to the first one. This new building was larger and could welcome up to 350 people.
Building a New Home for the Community
By 1937, the area served by Christ Church had over 8,000 people. Even more growth was expected. The local church leaders and the Bishop of Exeter decided it was time for a big, permanent church.
They started a fundraising campaign to collect £10,000 for the new building. People had already raised £4,600 over the years for this project.
In October 1937, they hired Nugent Cachemaille-Day to design the new church. He was asked to create a building that could hold up to 450 people. A company called Messrs. Wippell from Exeter was chosen to build it.
Construction Begins
Construction of St Paul's Church officially began on October 31, 1938. At first, the plan was to build only the main part of the church and the lower section of the tower. The rest would be added later when more money was raised.
But by the time building started, they had collected £8,214 and received a loan of £2,000. This meant they had enough funds to do more.
The foundation stone, which is a special stone laid at the start of a building project, was placed on January 14, 1939. Dame Violet Wills of Haytor laid the stone, with the Bishop of Exeter also present.
In May 1939, the church's local leadership group decided to complete the entire church at once. They continued to raise money, and the architect even updated the tower design in June 1939.
The Church is Completed
The new St Paul's Church was finished and cost £12,500 to build. It was officially opened and dedicated for worship by the Bishop of Exeter, the Right Rev. Charles Curzon, on December 9, 1939.
Later, in 1948, St Paul's became its own separate parish, meaning it had its own dedicated area and leadership. A church hall was built next to St Paul's in 1969, providing more space for community activities. In 2002, St Paul's and Christ Church started working together more closely as a joint benefice.
