St Paul's Church, Wordsworth Avenue facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Paul's Church, Wordsworth Avenue
St Paul's Church, Wordsworth Avenue
OS grid reference	SK 35356 93063
Denomination	Church of England
Churchmanship	Broad Church
History
Dedication	St. Paul
Administration
Parish	Sheffield
Diocese	Sheffield
Province	York

St Paul's Church is a modern church located in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. You can find it in the Parson Cross area on Wordsworth Avenue. This church is special because it's a Grade II* listed building, which means it's an important historical or architectural site.

The Story of St Paul's Church

Why Was St Paul's Built?

St Paul's Church first opened its doors in 1959. It was built to serve a new housing area called the New Parson Cross estate. This estate was created in the late 1940s on what used to be open countryside, also known as greenfield land.

Sheffield was growing and needed more homes. The city was also clearing out old, crowded housing areas, often called slums. So, new homes were built, and a new church was needed for the people moving in.

Who Designed the Church?

A famous Scottish architect named Basil Spence designed St Paul's Church. He had to work with a small budget, meaning he didn't have a lot of money to spend on the building.

Interestingly, Basil Spence was also working on his most famous project at the same time: Coventry Cathedral. This shows how busy and talented he was!

How the Parish Grew

When St Paul's Church first opened in 1959, it didn't have its own official church area, called a parish. It was like a smaller, "daughter" church connected to St Mary's Church in Ecclesfield.

Over time, the area around St Paul's became known as a "Conventional District." Then, in 1973, it officially became its own separate parish: St Paul, Wordsworth Avenue. Since the new housing estate never got an official name, the parish is known by its street address.

The community around the church faced tough times in the 1980s when the Sheffield steel industry, which provided many jobs, declined.

The Church's Design

What Does St Paul's Look Like?

Basil Spence's design for St Paul's Church is quite simple, but it's also very clever. The main part of the church is made of two brick walls. These walls are connected by a gently curved roof, which looks a bit like the inside of a barrel. This roof is made stronger with diagonal steel supports.

The front and back ends of the church are almost entirely made of glass. Spence used some ideas here that he had tried in another church he designed in 1957.

The Bell Tower and Church Hall

Outside the main church building, there's a tall bell tower, called a campanile. It's about 49-foot (15 m) high and is made of two brick walls with concrete pieces holding them together. On top of the bell tower, there's a cross that is about twenty-foot (6 m) tall.

Next to the church, within its grounds, is the church hall. This is a separate building used for community events and gatherings.

Inside the Church

Inside St Paul's, you'll find a balcony that you can reach by climbing steps. This is where the church organ is located.

The altar, which is a special table used for religious services, is partly hidden from the large glass window at the end of the church. It's screened by a beautiful wooden panel made from a type of wood called African Teak.

Basil Spence even gave a personal gift to the church: the decorations on the altar. These are made from hammered iron, showing his artistic touch.