St Paul’s, Burton upon Trent
Encyclopedia
St Paul’s Church is an Anglican
church on St Paul's Square, Burton upon Trent
, Staffordshire
England
. The church opened in 1874 and was designed by the architects James M. Teale and Edmund Beckett Denison
, with later additions by G.F. Bodley
. Since 2005, St Paul’s has been part of a parish with St Aidan's, Shobnall. It is in the diocese of Lichfield
.
in Borough Road, Burton was opened in 1865 from Christ Church at the suggestion of Michael Thomas Bass. By 1872 the mission was known as St Paul's and in 1873, it was assigned an ecclesiastical district, created out of the parishes of Christ Church, Holy Trinity, and St Modwen's
. A new church, St Paul’s, was opened in 1874 on a site soon known as St Paul's Square, with Michael Thomas Bass paying for the erection of the church and vicarage at a cost of £50,000.(£ as of ) . The church was consecrated on 7 April 1874 by the Bishop of Lichfield
, George Augustus Selwyn
.
). It uses Coxbench and Ancaster stone
in a geometrical, decorated style. The shape is of a cruciform
with an aisled three-bay chancel
, quatrefoil
in cross section and five-bay nave
, as well as north and south transepts, and a square central tower. The central tower, of 123 ft, houses a peal
of ten; the original eight bells were recast in 1912, and two further bells were added in 1922.
The column capitals
and label stops throughout the church were designed by a S. Tinkler of Derby and show naturalistic foliage, fruit, and animals with those in the nave representing the twelve months of the year. All the windows have early decorated style tracery
, with ballflower ornamentation in the chancel. The nave and transept clerestories have triple lancet
s, while the clerestories in the chancel have carved spherical triangles. The nave roof has traceried spandrel
s and principals supported on clustered wall shafts. There are six windows (one in the south aisle and five in the narthex
) designed in an Arts and Crafts
style by Archibald and Davies of the Bromsgrove Guild
. They date from 1919–34.
Between 1889 and 1901 the eastern arm and south transept were considerably altered to the design of George Frederick Bodley
, at the expense of Michael Bass, 1st Baron Burton
. In 1889, the south chancel aisle was converted into a chapel for daily services and two years later an external sacristy
was added on the north side of the chancel with an internal porch added to the south transept door.
The chancel and sanctuary roof were painted and a canopy was added to the original large circular stone pulpit. In 1894-5 the original organ, by Hill and Son of London, was replaced by a new Hope-Jones organ. Its case, in the south transept, was richly decorated by Bodley. The chancel floor was also relaid with red and white marble. Also changed were the original reredos
, which were replaced by ones designed by ecclesiastical and architectural sculptor Robert Bridgeman that depicted the Crucifixion
in a central panel of red shawk stone surrounded by the saints.
A number of other changes were made in the 20th century, paid for primarily by parishioners. A western narthex was added in 1910 as a memorial to Baron Burton, who had died the previous year in 1909. A calvary war memorial was erected in the churchyard in 1920 and a bishop's chair of stone was built into the sanctuary wall in 1931. The two west bays of the nave and the narthex were converted into a church hall in 1979 and at the same time several items were added from the former church of St Margaret, including a wooden lectern by Morris and Co., a painting of the Crucifixion which was placed by the south door, and statues of Alpha and Omega
which were added to the south chancel aisle chapel. The organ was also replaced in 1985.
British writer Arthur Mee
wrote of the decoration of St Paul's: “All is nobly rich and beautiful in this wonderful church.”
. The specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
church on St Paul's Square, Burton upon Trent
Burton upon Trent
Burton upon Trent, also known as Burton-on-Trent or simply Burton, is a town straddling the River Trent in the east of Staffordshire, England. Its associated adjective is "Burtonian"....
, Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The church opened in 1874 and was designed by the architects James M. Teale and Edmund Beckett Denison
Edmund Beckett, 1st Baron Grimthorpe
Edmund Beckett, 1st Baron Grimthorpe, Q.C. , known previously as Sir Edmund Beckett, 5th Baronet and Edmund Beckett Denison was a lawyer, horologist, and architect...
, with later additions by G.F. Bodley
George Frederick Bodley
George Frederick Bodley was an English architect working in the Gothic revival style.-Personal life:Bodley was the youngest son of William Hulme Bodley, M.D. of Edinburgh, physician at Hull Royal Infirmary, Kingston upon Hull, who in 1838 retired to his wife's home town, Brighton, Sussex, England....
. Since 2005, St Paul’s has been part of a parish with St Aidan's, Shobnall. It is in the diocese of Lichfield
Diocese of Lichfield
The Diocese of Lichfield is a Church of England diocese in the Province of Canterbury, England. The bishop's seat is located in the Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Chad in the city of Lichfield. The diocese covers 4,516 km² The Diocese of Lichfield is a Church of England...
.
History
A missionMission (station)
A religious mission or mission station is a location for missionary work.While primarily a Christian term, the concept of the religious "mission" is also used prominently by the Church of Scientology and their Scientology Missions International....
in Borough Road, Burton was opened in 1865 from Christ Church at the suggestion of Michael Thomas Bass. By 1872 the mission was known as St Paul's and in 1873, it was assigned an ecclesiastical district, created out of the parishes of Christ Church, Holy Trinity, and St Modwen's
St Modwen's, Burton upon Trent
St Modwen's is the Church of England town centre parish church for Burton upon Trent. It is part of the Diocese of Lichfield.-St Modwen's New Church:The current church building, which dominates Burton's market square, was...
. A new church, St Paul’s, was opened in 1874 on a site soon known as St Paul's Square, with Michael Thomas Bass paying for the erection of the church and vicarage at a cost of £50,000.(£ as of ) . The church was consecrated on 7 April 1874 by the Bishop of Lichfield
Bishop of Lichfield
The Bishop of Lichfield is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Lichfield in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers 4,516 km² of the counties of Staffordshire, Shropshire, Warwickshire and West Midlands. The bishop's seat is located in the Cathedral Church of the Blessed...
, George Augustus Selwyn
George Augustus Selwyn
George Augustus Selwyn was the first Anglican Bishop of New Zealand. He was Bishop of New Zealand from 1841 to 1858. His diocese was then subdivided and Selwyn was Primate of New Zealand from 1858 to 1868. He was Bishop of Lichfield from 1868 to 1878...
.
The building
St Paul's church was built to the design of James M. Teale of Doncaster with assistance from Sir Edmund Beckett Denison (later Edmund Beckett, 1st Baron GrimthorpeEdmund Beckett, 1st Baron Grimthorpe
Edmund Beckett, 1st Baron Grimthorpe, Q.C. , known previously as Sir Edmund Beckett, 5th Baronet and Edmund Beckett Denison was a lawyer, horologist, and architect...
). It uses Coxbench and Ancaster stone
Ancaster stone
Ancaster stone is Middle Jurassic oolitic limestone, quarried around Ancaster, Lincolnshire, England. There are three forms of this limestone, Weather Bed, Hard White and Freestone...
in a geometrical, decorated style. The shape is of a cruciform
Cruciform
Cruciform means having the shape of a cross or Christian cross.- Cruciform architectural plan :This is a common description of Christian churches. In Early Christian, Byzantine and other Eastern Orthodox forms of church architecture this is more likely to mean a tetraconch plan, a Greek cross,...
with an aisled three-bay chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
, quatrefoil
Quatrefoil
The word quatrefoil etymologically means "four leaves", and applies to general four-lobed shapes in various contexts.-In heraldry:In heraldic terminology, a quatrefoil is a representation of a flower with four petals, or a leaf with four leaflets . It is sometimes shown "slipped", i.e. with an...
in cross section and five-bay nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
, as well as north and south transepts, and a square central tower. The central tower, of 123 ft, houses a peal
Peal
A peal is the name given to a specific type of performance of change ringing. The precise definition of a peal has changed considerably over the years...
of ten; the original eight bells were recast in 1912, and two further bells were added in 1922.
The column capitals
Capital (architecture)
In architecture the capital forms the topmost member of a column . It mediates between the column and the load thrusting down upon it, broadening the area of the column's supporting surface...
and label stops throughout the church were designed by a S. Tinkler of Derby and show naturalistic foliage, fruit, and animals with those in the nave representing the twelve months of the year. All the windows have early decorated style tracery
Tracery
In architecture, Tracery is the stonework elements that support the glass in a Gothic window. The term probably derives from the 'tracing floors' on which the complex patterns of late Gothic windows were laid out.-Plate tracery:...
, with ballflower ornamentation in the chancel. The nave and transept clerestories have triple lancet
Lancet
Lancet may refer to:* In medicine:** Lancet , a cutting instrument with a double-edged blade** Blood lancet, a pricking needle used to obtain drops of blood for testing** The Lancet, a medical journal* In architecture:...
s, while the clerestories in the chancel have carved spherical triangles. The nave roof has traceried spandrel
Spandrel
A spandrel, less often spandril or splaundrel, is the space between two arches or between an arch and a rectangular enclosure....
s and principals supported on clustered wall shafts. There are six windows (one in the south aisle and five in the narthex
Narthex
The narthex of a church is the entrance or lobby area, located at the end of the nave, at the far end from the church's main altar. Traditionally the narthex was a part of the church building, but was not considered part of the church proper...
) designed in an Arts and Crafts
Arts and Crafts movement
Arts and Crafts was an international design philosophy that originated in England and flourished between 1860 and 1910 , continuing its influence until the 1930s...
style by Archibald and Davies of the Bromsgrove Guild
Bromsgrove Guild
The Bromsgrove Guild of Applied Arts was a company of modern artists and designers associated with the Arts and Crafts Movement, founded by Walter Gilbert. The guild worked in metal, wood, plaster, bronze, tapestry, glass and other mediums....
. They date from 1919–34.
Between 1889 and 1901 the eastern arm and south transept were considerably altered to the design of George Frederick Bodley
George Frederick Bodley
George Frederick Bodley was an English architect working in the Gothic revival style.-Personal life:Bodley was the youngest son of William Hulme Bodley, M.D. of Edinburgh, physician at Hull Royal Infirmary, Kingston upon Hull, who in 1838 retired to his wife's home town, Brighton, Sussex, England....
, at the expense of Michael Bass, 1st Baron Burton
Michael Bass, 1st Baron Burton
Michael Arthur Bass, 1st Baron Burton KCVO , known as Sir Michael Bass, 1st Baronet, from 1882 to 1886, was a British brewer, Liberal politician and philanthropist...
. In 1889, the south chancel aisle was converted into a chapel for daily services and two years later an external sacristy
Sacristy
A sacristy is a room for keeping vestments and other church furnishings, sacred vessels, and parish records.The sacristy is usually located inside the church, but in some cases it is an annex or separate building...
was added on the north side of the chancel with an internal porch added to the south transept door.
The chancel and sanctuary roof were painted and a canopy was added to the original large circular stone pulpit. In 1894-5 the original organ, by Hill and Son of London, was replaced by a new Hope-Jones organ. Its case, in the south transept, was richly decorated by Bodley. The chancel floor was also relaid with red and white marble. Also changed were the original reredos
Reredos
thumb|300px|right|An altar and reredos from [[St. Josaphat's Roman Catholic Church|St. Josaphat Catholic Church]] in [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]]. This would be called a [[retable]] in many other languages and countries....
, which were replaced by ones designed by ecclesiastical and architectural sculptor Robert Bridgeman that depicted the Crucifixion
Crucifixion
Crucifixion is an ancient method of painful execution in which the condemned person is tied or nailed to a large wooden cross and left to hang until dead...
in a central panel of red shawk stone surrounded by the saints.
A number of other changes were made in the 20th century, paid for primarily by parishioners. A western narthex was added in 1910 as a memorial to Baron Burton, who had died the previous year in 1909. A calvary war memorial was erected in the churchyard in 1920 and a bishop's chair of stone was built into the sanctuary wall in 1931. The two west bays of the nave and the narthex were converted into a church hall in 1979 and at the same time several items were added from the former church of St Margaret, including a wooden lectern by Morris and Co., a painting of the Crucifixion which was placed by the south door, and statues of Alpha and Omega
Alpha and Omega
The term Alpha and Omega comes from the phrase "I am the alpha and the omega" , an appellation of Jesus in the Book of Revelation ....
which were added to the south chancel aisle chapel. The organ was also replaced in 1985.
British writer Arthur Mee
Arthur Mee
Arthur Henry Mee was a British writer, journalist and educator. He is best known for The Harmsworth Self-Educator, The Children's Encyclopaedia, The Children's Newspaper, and The King's England...
wrote of the decoration of St Paul's: “All is nobly rich and beautiful in this wonderful church.”
Organ
The church contains an organ formerly in the Central Methodist Church, Saltergate, ChesterfieldChesterfield
Chesterfield is a market town and a borough of Derbyshire, England. It lies north of Derby, on a confluence of the rivers Rother and Hipper. Its population is 70,260 , making it Derbyshire's largest town...
. The specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.
List of organists
- Dr Arthur Blurton Plant, 1874–1914 (Born in 1853 he was organist and choirmaster from the church's consecration in 1874 until his death. In forty years as organist of St Paul’s, he only missed one Sunday.)
- Arthur William Keith Plant 1914–1940 (son of Arthur Blurton Plant)
- Dennis TownhillDennis TownhillDennis William Townhill OBE was an English organist and composer.Born in Lincoln, he was educated at Lincoln School and studied under Dr Gordon Archbold Slater at Lincoln Cathedral....
1942–1943