Guide to S Andrews Church

Church Guide

S.Andrew's Church, on a commanding site which makes it an object of architectural admiration visible from a wide area, symbolises the very essence of the Christian religion - Resurrection. Even as Jesus Christ himself rose, from what might be termed physical "demolition" to triumph over adversity to begin a new chapter as Saviour of the World, the current parish church of S.Andrew first built in Wells Street in London's West End and consecrated in 1847, was re-born and reconsecrated at its present site on October 15, 1934.

The church was designed by Dawkes and, at the height of the Victorian era, was among the best known churches in London, mainly because of the musical and choral performance of the services. It had a resident choir school and professional Lay Clerks and its music was reputed to be better than that at many cathedrals in England.

S.Andrew's Wells Street as it was from 1847 - 1931

Gounod's sacred music was first heard in this country at the church, and his Messe Solenelle, adapted to the English Eucharist, was performed there on S.Andrew's Day, 1863. He wrote numerous anthems for the choir. Choir offices were sung daily, and members of the Royal Family were among those who regularly worshipped at the church. With the development of London's suburbs, which absorbed most of the population and left the West End more of a commercial than a residential area, the church in Wells Street became redundant. At the same time, as part of this change in London's character, the population of Kingsbury was growing rapidly so that the centuries-old S.Andrew's Church there became too small for the needs of the parish.

The Church is moved

The then Bishop of London, Dr. Winnington Ingram, made a bold decision to move redundant London churches, and the Wells Street church came within this plan. Kingsbury was chosen as its new home, and this became the first and, in fact, the only parish for such an experiment. In 1931, the Wells Street building was dismantled, every stone being numbered to facilitate re-erection (apart from certain planning modifications) at Kingsbury.

Reassembling the numbered stones in Kingsbury c.1934

S.Andrew's is a fine example of the best of "Victorian Gothic" architecture, and its light interior immediately makes evident to the visitor the many examples incorporated therein of the best artistry and workmanship by outstanding craftsmen of the 19th Century.

The altar and reredos of S.Andrew's, which give the comparatively small church a near-cathedral-like impact, are of striking beauty. The magnificent reredos -depicting the Resurrection and the Ascension - in Coen stone, was designed by Street, but the five alabaster sculptures with the crucifixion in the centre are by James Redfern, who, as an illiterate boy was discovered in a Staffordshire village by Father Benjamin Webb, vicar of S.Andrew's, carving figures in wood with a penknife. With Father Webb's encouragement Redfem became one of the country's outstanding sculptors, only to die tragically at the age of 38, victim of the poor health that followed after some of his work at Bristol cathedral had been vandalised.

In some quarters Redfern was regarded as the greatest sculptor England had produced since the Renaissance. Other examples of his work can be seen in the Chapter House at Westminster Abbey, the reredos in Gloucester Cathedral, and the font at Inverness Cathedral. Kneeling in the left panel of the S.Andrew's reredos, in the scene representing Christ's crucifixion, is a figure of Benjamin Webb's brother whose life the centre piece commemorates.

The canopied arches on the north and south walls, and the Sedilia in the Sanctuary were given by parishioners in memory of Benjamin Webb, but the quality of the workmanship there is inferior to that of the reredos. The chancel gates, screen and pulpit in wrought ironwork were designed by Street, the architect, while the brass Reading desk is the work of Butterfield. The High Altar was designed by Pugin. Without changing the appearance of the Sanctuary this altar has now been brought forward so that the Eucharist can be offered by the priest from behind the altar table. Notable candlesticks by Barkentin and Krall were unfortunately stolen in 1995.

The Corpus Christi chapel

The Corpus Christi chapel in the south aisle was consecrated in 1955. On the south wall of this chapel is a recessed tomb with a carved effigy of a recumbent Canon James Murray, the second incumbent at Wells Street, who set the musical tone of the future worship at the Church. A painting at the back of the memorial was executed by Smallfield and was shown in the International Exhibition of 1862. The Blessed Sacrament is permanently reserved, for the sick and housebound, in the Corpus Christi chapel.

The Lady Chapel is where the organ stood at Wells Street. This chapel was consecrated in the late 1950s. The reredos of this chapel was designed and painted by William Gilbey and was given by Mr Ivor D. Bayley, a one-time Churchwarden, who also presented the marble flooring and altar rails. The statue on Our Lady was given in memory of Mr James Yhap. It is in the Lady Chapel in the north aisle that weekday Eucharist is offered.

Stained glass

The whole of the east end stained glass is modern being a replacement for windows destroyed by a flying bomb during the 1939-45 war. The original windows were designed by Pugin and made by Hardman Bell. All the other stained glass in the church is original from Wells Street, particularly fine being the west window above the gallery. The west window is known as the 'Te Deum' because it shows our Lord surrounded by angels, prophets, apostles and martyrs, including a robed cardinal with his red hat and cloak. In the gallery is housed the Willis organ which came from Wells Street. It was rebuilt in Kingsbury in 1934 with some changes. Originally it was a three manual instrument but for some unknown reason the choir organ of eight stops was lost or sold "in the move". In 1978 the organ was thoroughly overhauled.

Art and treasures

Pictures of saints on the west gallery - in Wells Street the gallery extended down the north and south aisles - were painted by Alfred Bell and given by parishioners. Another impressive aspect of the Church comes from the individually carved oak pew ends. These show many kinds of mythical and actual animals and birds. A litany desk by Burgess of walnut inlaid with maple wood is a fine specimen and is now housed in the Victoria and Albert Museum.

The Baptistry is at the west end of the north aisle. The original font by Pugin was replaced in 1878 by the present one of red and white marble with rich inlaid panels which was designed by Street. The elaborately carved cover was designed by Pearson and given in 1887. A fresco on the north wall depicting the baptism of Christ in the River Jordan is by Clayton and Bell.

The church possesses many fine pieces of plate but, because of repeated vandalism, much of the glory of these ornaments cannot be seen except during services. The treasures include finely embroidered altar frontals, the work of 19th Century artists. Particularly beautiful among the silver is the Burgess chalice, believed to be the second best chalice that craftsman ever made. This is now in the Victoria and Albert Museum.

The bells of S.Andrew's are particularly fine, so much so that the Church is frequently visited by skilled campanologists eager to test the charm of the peals. The tower above the baptistry contains eight bells cast by C.J.Lewis of Shepherds Lane, Brixton. They are technically known as a "maiden peal" as none of the bells required tuning after they left the moulds. The tenor bell weighs 21 cwt (its note is E flat) while the whole ring weighs 76 cwt.

Lighting Award

In 1994 the Church was rewired and a new lighting scheme installed by Anthony J. Smith of Gloucester. The scheme received an Award at the 1996 Lighting Design Awards.

Incumbents of S.Andrew's on the present site:

Father W.A.Simmonds who came to Kingsbury in 1933 as vicar of Old S.Andrew's and was inducted to New S.Andrew's when it opened in 1934. Father F.G .Springford (1954). Father W.F.Bunyan (1969). Father. D.P.Mann (1975). Father John T Smith (1991).

Church Guide S.Andrew's Church, on a commanding site which makes it an object of architectural admiration visible from a wide area, symbolises the very essence of the Christian religion - Resurrection. Even as Jesus Christ himself rose, from what might be termed physical "demolition" to triumph over adversity to begin a new chapter as Saviour of the World, the current parish church of S.Andrew first built in Wells Street in London's West End and consecrated in 1847, was re-born and reconsecrated at its present site on October 15, 1934. The church was designed by Dawkes and, at the height of the Victorian era, was among the best known churches in London, mainly because of the musical and choral performance of the services. It had a resident choir school and professional Lay Clerks and its music was reputed to be better than that at many cathedrals in England.	S.Andrew's Wells Street as it was from 1847 - 1931
Gounod's sacred music was first heard in this country at the church, and his Messe Solenelle, adapted to the English Eucharist, was performed there on S.Andrew's Day, 1863. He wrote numerous anthems for the choir. Choir offices were sung daily, and members of the Royal Family were among those who regularly worshipped at the church. With the development of London's suburbs, which absorbed most of the population and left the West End more of a commercial than a residential area, the church in Wells Street became redundant. At the same time, as part of this change in London's character, the population of Kingsbury was growing rapidly so that the centuries-old S.Andrew's Church there became too small for the needs of the parish.
The Church is moved The then Bishop of London, Dr. Winnington Ingram, made a bold decision to move redundant London churches, and the Wells Street church came within this plan. Kingsbury was chosen as its new home, and this became the first and, in fact, the only parish for such an experiment. In 1931, the Wells Street building was dismantled, every stone being numbered to facilitate re-erection (apart from certain planning modifications) at Kingsbury.		Reassembling the numbered stones in Kingsbury c.1934
S.Andrew's is a fine example of the best of "Victorian Gothic" architecture, and its light interior immediately makes evident to the visitor the many examples incorporated therein of the best artistry and workmanship by outstanding craftsmen of the 19th Century.
The altar and reredos of S.Andrew's, which give the comparatively small church a near-cathedral-like impact, are of striking beauty. The magnificent reredos -depicting the Resurrection and the Ascension - in Coen stone, was designed by Street, but the five alabaster sculptures with the crucifixion in the centre are by James Redfern, who, as an illiterate boy was discovered in a Staffordshire village by Father Benjamin Webb, vicar of S.Andrew's, carving figures in wood with a penknife. With Father Webb's encouragement Redfem became one of the country's outstanding sculptors, only to die tragically at the age of 38, victim of the poor health that followed after some of his work at Bristol cathedral had been vandalised. In some quarters Redfern was regarded as the greatest sculptor England had produced since the Renaissance. Other examples of his work can be seen in the Chapter House at Westminster Abbey, the reredos in Gloucester Cathedral, and the font at Inverness Cathedral. Kneeling in the left panel of the S.Andrew's reredos, in the scene representing Christ's crucifixion, is a figure of Benjamin Webb's brother whose life the centre piece commemorates. The canopied arches on the north and south walls, and the Sedilia in the Sanctuary were given by parishioners in memory of Benjamin Webb, but the quality of the workmanship there is inferior to that of the reredos. The chancel gates, screen and pulpit in wrought ironwork were designed by Street, the architect, while the brass Reading desk is the work of Butterfield. The High Altar was designed by Pugin. Without changing the appearance of the Sanctuary this altar has now been brought forward so that the Eucharist can be offered by the priest from behind the altar table. Notable candlesticks by Barkentin and Krall were unfortunately stolen in 1995.
The Corpus Christi chapel The Corpus Christi chapel in the south aisle was consecrated in 1955. On the south wall of this chapel is a recessed tomb with a carved effigy of a recumbent Canon James Murray, the second incumbent at Wells Street, who set the musical tone of the future worship at the Church. A painting at the back of the memorial was executed by Smallfield and was shown in the International Exhibition of 1862. The Blessed Sacrament is permanently reserved, for the sick and housebound, in the Corpus Christi chapel. The Lady Chapel is where the organ stood at Wells Street. This chapel was consecrated in the late 1950s. The reredos of this chapel was designed and painted by William Gilbey and was given by Mr Ivor D. Bayley, a one-time Churchwarden, who also presented the marble flooring and altar rails. The statue on Our Lady was given in memory of Mr James Yhap. It is in the Lady Chapel in the north aisle that weekday Eucharist is offered.
Stained glass The whole of the east end stained glass is modern being a replacement for windows destroyed by a flying bomb during the 1939-45 war. The original windows were designed by Pugin and made by Hardman Bell. All the other stained glass in the church is original from Wells Street, particularly fine being the west window above the gallery. The west window is known as the 'Te Deum' because it shows our Lord surrounded by angels, prophets, apostles and martyrs, including a robed cardinal with his red hat and cloak. In the gallery is housed the Willis organ which came from Wells Street. It was rebuilt in Kingsbury in 1934 with some changes. Originally it was a three manual instrument but for some unknown reason the choir organ of eight stops was lost or sold "in the move". In 1978 the organ was thoroughly overhauled.
Art and treasures Pictures of saints on the west gallery - in Wells Street the gallery extended down the north and south aisles - were painted by Alfred Bell and given by parishioners. Another impressive aspect of the Church comes from the individually carved oak pew ends. These show many kinds of mythical and actual animals and birds. A litany desk by Burgess of walnut inlaid with maple wood is a fine specimen and is now housed in the Victoria and Albert Museum. The Baptistry is at the west end of the north aisle. The original font by Pugin was replaced in 1878 by the present one of red and white marble with rich inlaid panels which was designed by Street. The elaborately carved cover was designed by Pearson and given in 1887. A fresco on the north wall depicting the baptism of Christ in the River Jordan is by Clayton and Bell. The church possesses many fine pieces of plate but, because of repeated vandalism, much of the glory of these ornaments cannot be seen except during services. The treasures include finely embroidered altar frontals, the work of 19th Century artists. Particularly beautiful among the silver is the Burgess chalice, believed to be the second best chalice that craftsman ever made. This is now in the Victoria and Albert Museum. The bells of S.Andrew's are particularly fine, so much so that the Church is frequently visited by skilled campanologists eager to test the charm of the peals. The tower above the baptistry contains eight bells cast by C.J.Lewis of Shepherds Lane, Brixton. They are technically known as a "maiden peal" as none of the bells required tuning after they left the moulds. The tenor bell weighs 21 cwt (its note is E flat) while the whole ring weighs 76 cwt. Lighting Award In 1994 the Church was rewired and a new lighting scheme installed by Anthony J. Smith of Gloucester. The scheme received an Award at the 1996 Lighting Design Awards.
Incumbents of S.Andrew's on the present site: Father W.A.Simmonds who came to Kingsbury in 1933 as vicar of Old S.Andrew's and was inducted to New S.Andrew's when it opened in 1934. Father F.G .Springford (1954). Father W.F.Bunyan (1969). Father. D.P.Mann (1975). Father John T Smith (1991).