St Stephen's Church, Bath

St Stephen's Church
General information
Architectural style Victorian architecture
Town or city Bath
Country England
Construction started 1840
Completed 1845, 1883, 1866
Cost 6,000 pounds
Client Anglican Church
Technical details
Structural system Bath Stone Masonry
Design and construction
Architect James Wilson

St Stephen's Church is a Church of England parish church in Bath, Somerset England.

History

Designed to serve the spiritual needs of northeast Bath by James Wilson and built between 1840-1845,[1] from Bath Stone, a limestone sourced from the Limpley Stoke mine which is situated in the Limpley Stoke Valley.[2]

St Stephen's Church on Lansdown Road in Walcot cost £6,000. The constructed church, however, remained unconsecrated until 1881. For the Royal School, a northeast aisle was added in 1866, thought to be designed by the Wilson & Willcox firm.

The very wide apsidal chancel with the vestry and organ chamber was built by W. J. Willcox built in 1882-1883, for £3,000. W. J. Willcox also designed the painted ceiling in 1886, which was executed by H. & F. Davis.

The Lady Chapel's east stained glass window was completed in 1983 by local artist Mark Angus to commemorate one hundred years since the formation of the parish. 'Centenary' depicts St Stephen’s transformation on the bridge between life and death to the moment of martyrdom: 'With distorted ambiguity between pain and repose, the body rises amid red flames on a blue ground'. The Gothicised font and font cover are marble and dated 1843. The c.1900 transept ceiling and reredos are by Sir T. G. Jackson.

The crypt was converted into a community centre in 1993-1994 by Slade, Smith and Winrow. In 2007 the tower stonework was restored and the church bells replaced. Modern exterior floodlighting, replacing a less efficient previous system, was installed.[3]

Present day

The parish is a member of Inclusive Church, and is welcoming of LGBT people:[4]

We believe that we are all made and loved by God in all God’s wonder and creativity - God the author of love. We are looking to the day when LGBT folk can have relationships celebrated and blessed in church. Meanwhile, all are welcome, all are loved, all good love is embraced with joy.

References

  1. ↑ "Church of St Stephen". Images of England. Retrieved 2007-10-24.
  2. ↑ "St Stephens Church, Lansdown in Bath". Minerva Stone Conservation. Retrieved 2008-05-19.
  3. ↑ Palmer, S (2007-08-30). "Council's boost to tower appeal". The Bath Chronicle: 9.
  4. ↑ "About". Bath Saint Stephen's. Retrieved 9 October 2017.

Further reading

  • Michael Forsyth (2003). Bath. New Haven: Yale University Press, 265-266.

Coordinates: 51°23′34″N 2°21′49″W / 51.39285°N 2.36358°W / 51.39285; -2.36358

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