All Saints' Church, Petersham, London

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For the church in Sydney, Australia, see All Saints Anglican Church, Petersham.
former All Saints' Church, Petersham
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OS grid reference TQ 183 730
Location Bute Avenue, Petersham, London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, TW10 7AX
Country England
Denomination Church of England
History
Founded 1899
Founder(s) Rachael Laetitia Ward[1]
Dedicated 1909
Consecrated never consecrated
Architecture
Status ceased to be used as a church in 1986
Functional status now a private residence
Architect(s) John Kelly[2]
Architectural type Romanesque Revival[1]
Administration
Diocese Southwark
Listed Building – Grade II
Official name Church of All Saints, Bute Avenue
Designated 25 June 1983
Reference no. 1065334

All Saints' Church, Petersham in Bute Avenue, Petersham in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, is a Grade II listed[3] former church which is now used as a private residence.

History and description

The church hall, now used as Petersham's village hall

Designed by Leeds architect John Kelly, the church was commissioned in 1899 by Rachel Laetitia Warde (née Walker) (1841–1906)[4] to accommodate the expected suburban expansion of Petersham[5] and as a memorial to her parents, using funds from the estate of her father Samuel Walker (1812–98)[6] who had died the previous year. However, she died three years before it was finished and the project was completed by her son Lionel[1] (1876–1963).[7]

The church, with a separate church hall and institute[2] (which is also Grade II listed)[8] was erected in the grounds of Bute House (previously the residence of British Prime Minister John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute,[9] and which was demolished in 1908). It was built in red brick and terracotta[2] in the style of a basilica.[1] The campanile (bell tower) is 118 feet high[1] and overlooks Richmond Park. Bridget Cherry and Nikolaus Pevsner described the architectural style as "Emphatically Italian Early Christian or Romanesque", the interior as "lavish" and the baptistery as "quite exceptional".[2] The nave had a grey and white marble central aisle taken from Tournai Cathedral in Belgium.[1]

The church was never consecrated as the anticipated growth in Petersham's population never took place.[5] However, it was used occasionally by the parish and also by the Greek Orthodox Church.[5] It continued to be used for weddings until 1981 but ceased to be used as a church in 1986.[10]

During the Second World War it was requisitioned and used as a radar and anti-aircraft command post.[11][12] It was also used as a recording studio[13] and as a location for filming.[1] In January 1976 Luciano Pavarotti recorded his best-selling O Holy Night album (reissued as a CD in 1990) in the church.[14] Other recordings made at the church include an album of songs by Alexander Borodin and Alexander Dargomizhsky, performed by Sergei Leiferkus, Semion Skigin and Leonid Gorokhov,[15] and recordings by Christopher Hogwood and the Academy of Ancient Music.[16]

The Anglican Diocese of Southwark sold the church building in about 1996.[10] It is now a private residence, known as All Saints House, and has been converted to include an indoor swimming pool, jacuzzi and steam room.[1] The church hall is now used as Petersham's village hall.[17] The frieze above the hall's front entrance has the inscription "AD 1900. Ellen Walker Thy Kingdom Come. Memorial Church Room".[8]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

Further reading

  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 74 pages.
  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 44 pages.

External links

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