St Paul's Church, Wordsworth Avenue facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Paul's Church, Wordsworth Avenue |
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St Paul's Church, Wordsworth Avenue
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| 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 special building located in Sheffield, England. You can find it in the Parson Cross area, on Wordsworth Avenue. It's a modern-looking church built after a big war, and it's considered a very important historical building, known as a Grade II* listed building. This means it's protected because of its unique design and history.
Contents
The Story of St Paul's Church
St Paul's Church first opened its doors in 1959. It was built to serve a new neighborhood called the New Parson Cross estate. This area was created in the late 1940s. At that time, the city of Sheffield was clearing out old, crowded housing and building new homes in the countryside.
Who Designed the Church?
A famous Scottish architect named Basil Spence designed St Paul's Church. He had to work with a limited budget, meaning he didn't have a lot of money to spend. Interestingly, Basil Spence was also working on his most famous project, Coventry Cathedral, at the same time he was overseeing the building of St Paul's.
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 church connected to St Mary's Church in Ecclesfield. Later, in 1973, the area around St Paul's became its own separate parish. This new parish was named "St Paul, Wordsworth Avenue." Since the new housing estate never had an official name, the church's parish is known by its street address. In the 1980s, the area faced tough times when the steel industry in Sheffield declined.
The Church's Unique Design
Basil Spence's design for St Paul's Church looks simple, but it's quite clever. The church is mainly made of two brick walls. These walls are connected by a gently curved roof that looks like a half-barrel. This roof is made stronger with diagonal steel supports.
Glass Walls and a Tall Tower
The front and back ends of the church are almost entirely made of glass. Spence used some ideas he had tried in another church he designed in 1957. In front of the church, there's a tall bell tower, called a campanile. It's about 15 meters (around 49 feet) high and is made of just two brick walls with concrete ties holding them together. At the very top of the campanile, there's a cross that is about 6 meters (around 20 feet) tall.
Inside the Church
Next to the church, there's a church hall. Inside St Paul's, you'll find a balcony that you can reach by steps. This is where the organ is located. The altar area, which is a special part of the church, is separated from the large end window by a beautiful wooden panel. This panel is made from a special type of wood called African Teak. Basil Spence himself gave the church the altar decorations, which are made from hammered iron.
