Church Heritage Record 638242

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Bestwood: St Matthew on the Hill

Name:

This is the church’s legal name as given by the Church Commissioners.

Bestwood: St Matthew on the Hill
Record Type:

A classification of the current status of the building

Closed Church
Church code:

This is a unique identification number supplied to each church building by the Church Commissioners.

638242
Diocese:

Name of diocese in which the church building is located at the time of entry.

Southwell & Nottingham
Archdeaconry:

Name of archdeaconry in which the church building is located at the time of entry

Nottingham
Parish:

This is the legal name of the parish as given by the Church Commissioners.

Bestwood Saint Matthew with Saint Philip

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Statutory Designation Information

Listed Building?

The decision to put a church building on the National Heritage List for England and assign it a listing grade is made by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. The decision is normally based on recommendations made by Historic England, the government’s adviser on the historic environment.

This is not a Listed Building
Scheduled Monument?

The decision to schedule a feature (building, monument, archaeological remains, etc.) located within the church building’s precinct or churchyard is made by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. The decision is based on recommendations made by Historic England, the government’s adviser on cultural heritage.

There is no Scheduled Monument within the curtilage or precinct

National Park

National Parks are areas of countryside that include villages and towns, which are protected because of their beautiful countryside, wildlife and cultural heritage. In England, National Parks are designated by Natural England, the government’s advisor on the natural environment.

The church is not in a National Park

Conservation Area

Conservation areas are places of special architectural or historic interest where it is desirable to preserve and enhance the character and appearance of such areas. Conservation Areas are designated by the Local Council.

The church is not in a Conservation Area

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Heritage At Risk Status

On Heritage At Risk Register?

The Heritage at Risk programme is run and managed by Historic England, the government’s advisor on cultural heritage. It aims to protect and manage the historic environment, so that the number of ‘at risk’ historic places and sites across England are reduced.

This church is not on the Heritage at Risk Register
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Approximate Date

Approximate Date:

Selecting a single date for the construction of a church building can sometimes be very difficult as most CoE buildings have seen many phases of development over time. The CHR allows you to record a time period rather than a specific date.

The CHR records the time period for the building’s predominant fabric as opposed to the date of the earliest fabric or the church’s foundation date.

Modern

Exterior Image

Exterior image of 638242 Bestwood St Matthew on the Hill
Caption:

603242 

Exterior image of 638242 Bestwood St Matthew on the Hill
Description:

It seems to be the wrong photograph. Provided coordinates come up with another church on geograph.org.uk

Photograph of the south elevation of the church, taken from the south-west.
Year / Date:

2011, April 06

May 2014
Copyright:

Keltek Trust

Archbishops' Council
Originator:

Keltek Trust

Catherine Townsend

Summary Description

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Built to support the Bestwood Estate, designed by Broadhead and Royle and consecrated in 1959. In July 2009 there was a fire inside the church, and since then the congregation have been worshipping at their sister church St Philips Top Valley.

Visiting and Facilities

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
The church is closed for worship.
Date closed for worship:
Work in progress - can you help?
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Church Website

Church Website:

www.holytrinitylyonsdown.org.uk

Work in progress - can you help?

Sources and Further Information

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Catherine Townsend (May 2014) Exterior image of 638242 Bestwood St Matthew on the Hill [Digital Archive/Graphic material]
Exterior image of 638242 Bestwood St Matthew on the Hill
Catherine Townsend (May 2014) Interior image of 638242 Bestwood St Matthew on the Hill [Digital Archive/Graphic material]
Interior image of 638242 Bestwood St Matthew on the Hill
Church Buildings Council (2019) Church Bells 2 Bells [Archive/Index]
2 Bells

If you notice any errors with the below outlines of your connected churchyards, please email heritageonline@churchofengland.org with the corrections needed.

This could include information on new churchyards, edits to the boundaries shown, or different land characteristics. 

We are working on adding the consecrated land found within local authority cemeteries, and in time, this data will be shown on the map.

Grid Reference: SK 557 447

To zoom into an area hold the SHIFT key down then click and drag a rectangle.

Administrative Area

Unitary Authority:

The administrative area within which the church is located.

City of Nottingham (B)

Location and Setting

This field describes the setting of the church building, i.e. the surroundings in which the church building is experienced, and whether or not it makes a positive or negative contribution to the significance of the building.

The Bestwood Estate is a post-war residential area located north of Nottingham city centre. The church occupies an exposed site on the top of a hill to the east of housing which borders Padstow Road. Despite its high position views of the church are limited. A modern Primary School is positioned to the south and housing abuts the west and north boundaries. The church is orientated south-west - north-east and is accessed from a tarmac driveway with turning circle. St Matthew's is set within a large grasses two acre site which descends steeply to the north and is marked by modern fencing on all sides. There are no burials and the plot is quite overgrown. Mature trees include birch, alder and oak. The vicarage is attached to the south of the church building. Some parking is available to its west.

Church Plan

Work in progress - can you help?

Ground Plan Description and Dimensions

Ground Plan

Provide as written description of the ground plan of the church building and well as its dimensions.

Nave and chancel in one with south porch linking to campanile at the west end and organ chamber north of chancel. A south chapel at the east end forms a link to the vicarage. An extension in the north-west corner contains kitchen and WC.

Dimensions

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

[Approximate] Nave 27.5 m (90ft) long x 9m (30ft) high

Footprint of Church buildings (m2):

Small (<199m2)

Medium (200-599m2)

Large (600m-999m2)

Very Large (>1000m2)

Work in progress - can you help?

Description of Archaeology and History

This field aims to record the archaeological potential of the wider area around the building and churchyard, as well as the history of site.

A new church for the Bestwood Estate was built in the 1950s, designed by architects Frank Arthur Broadhead (b. 1887) and Eric Vernon Royle (1948-1982). Its form echoes that of Sir Basil Spence’s 1950s churches in Coventry which were similar rectangular basilican-type churches with concrete portal frames and attached concrete towers. St Matthew’s on the Hill, as it was known, was consecrated in 1959 and its tower was completed a few years later. The original roof was copper.

A mission church had been built on the site, to the west of the new building, in 1939 and was known as St Francis. It remained as the church hall following the completion of the new church, but was demolished c.1996. An extension was built projecting north from the north-west corner of St Matthew’s incorporating facilities instead.

The new church of St Matthew replaced a church on Talbot Street which closed in 1952 and was demolished in 1956. Items were relocated from the old church including a bell, pews, altar table, lectern, font, choir stalls, litany desk and font, but some of these items had been replaced by the time that a fire damaged the building in 2009. St Matthew’s has since been left empty and is infested by pigeons.

The archaeological potential of the site is low. Heritage records note the location of a WWII heavy anti aircraft battery east of the site, a late 19th century hospital to the south-west and railways which opened in 1882 to the south and north-west. The station to the north-west closed in 1958.

The site contains many mature trees and includes one Tree Preservation Order.

Exterior Description

This field aims to record a written description of the exterior of the church building and the churchyard.

The church appears derelict though fairly sound from the exterior. It is designed in a manner resembling some of Sir Basil Spence's plans and has a tall south-west campanile that it virtually free-standing. The main building has a single long shallow-pitched roof which forms gabled east and west ends, and has overhanging eaves with timber bargeboards. There are some lower extensions around the periphery.

Long rectangular windows mark the north and south elevations, with the lower parts filled with concrete panels, and most glazed sections now boarded or broken. Long panels of glass bricks at the eastern most end of the north and south elevations diffuse light into the east end of the interior space. Concrete window frames stand proud of the brick elevations. The west elevation is formed of pre-cast concrete panels with insulated glass blocks arranged in the centre forming a concrete cross between them. The east elevation is of plain brick with a crucifix.

The tower is attached to the south-west corner by a single storey lobby. The tower has cast concrete louvres at the uppermost stages which incorporate a cross and is recessed back from the lower stages. Window openings are in the north and south elevations. A single storey block contains the chapel and vestry, and links the vicarage with the church at the east end.

Architects, Artists and Associated People/Organisations

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Work in progress - can you help?

Building Fabric and Features

This field is an index of the building and its major components

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Collapse Building Fabric and FeaturesBuilding Fabric and Features
BELL TOWER (COMPONENT) (20th century)
CHANCEL (20th century)
CHAPEL (COMPONENT) (20th century)
KITCHEN (20th century)
NAVE (20th century)
ORGAN (COMPONENT) (20th century)
PORCH (20th century)

Building Materials

This field is an index of the building’s material composition

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Collapse Building MaterialsBuilding Materials
ASPHALT (20th century)
BRICK (20th century)
PANEL BOARD (20th century)

Interior Image

Interior image of 638242 Bestwood St Matthew on the Hill
Caption:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Interior image of 638242 Bestwood St Matthew on the Hill
Description:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Photograph of the inside of the church, looking towards the chancel.
Year / Date:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
May 2014
Copyright:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Archbishops' Council
Originator:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Catherine Townsend

Interior Description

This field aims to record a written description of the interior of the church building.

The interior would have been regularly accessed from the lobby in the south-west corner, but access is now through the chapel which has a dorr in its west elevation. The interior remains as it was following the fire. The fire damage is obscured by the desecration of the interior by pigeon infestation. Furniture remains inside in disordered fashion and fittings such as a canopy over the altar table, a crucifix suspended over the chancel, the organ north of the chancel and original light - fittings all remain.

The chancel is raised by two steps at the east end, whilst a ribbed timber ceiling passes over head. Steel buttresses mark the bays. A glazed timber screen separates the south chapel and chancel. The chapel is lit by a roof light over the altar. A door in the south wall leads to the vestry.

Internal Fixtures and Fittings

This field is an index of the building’s internal, architectural components. This includes its internal spaces and those areas’ fixtures and fittings (building components which are securely fixed to the church or cathedral).

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Collapse Internal Fixtures and FittingsInternal Fixtures and Fittings
ALTAR (20th century)
BELL (1 of 2)
BELL (2 of 2)
FONT (COMPONENT) (20th century)
LECTERN (20th century)
ORGAN (COMPONENT) (20th century)
PLAQUE (COMPONENT) (19th century)
PULPIT (20th century)
RAIL (20th century)
STAINED GLASS (WINDOW) (19th century)

Portable Furnishings and Artworks

This field is an index of the building’s movable, non-fixed furnishings and artworks.

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Collapse Portable Furnishings and ArtworksPortable Furnishings and Artworks
BOOK (20th century)

If you notice any errors with the below outlines of your connected churchyards, please email heritageonline@churchofengland.org with the corrections needed.

This could include information on new churchyards, edits to the boundaries shown, or different land characteristics. 

We are working on adding the consecrated land found within local authority cemeteries, and in time, this data will be shown on the map.

Grid Reference: SK 557 447

To zoom into an area hold the SHIFT key down then click and drag a rectangle.

Ecology

This field aims to record a description of the ecology of the churchyard and surrounding setting.

Work in progress - can you help?

Ecological Designations

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

The everyday wildlife of burial grounds means much to those who visit and cherish them but many burial grounds are so rich in wildlife that they should be designated and specially protected. Few have the legal protection of a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) or, in the case of local authority owned cemeteries, Local Nature Reserve. This makes it even more important that they are cared for and protected by the people looking after them.

Many have a non-statutory designation as a recognition of their importance. These non-statutory designations have a variety of names in different regions including Local Wildlife Site, County Wildlife Site, Site of Importance for Nature Conservation or Site of Nature Conservation Importance (Local Wildlife Site is the most common name). Their selection is based on records of the most important, distinctive and threatened species and habitats within a national, regional and local context. This makes them some of our most valuable wildlife areas.

For example, many burial grounds which are designated as Local Wildlife Sites contain species-rich meadow, rich in wildflowers, native grasses and grassland fungi managed by only occasional mowing plus raking. When this is the case, many animals may be present too, insects, birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammals. This type of grassland was once widespread and has been almost entirely lost from the UK with approximately 3% remaining, so burial grounds with species-rich meadow managed in this way are extremely important for wildlife.

These designations should be considered when planning management or change.

If you think that this or any other burial ground should be designated please contact Caring for God’s Acre (info@cfga.org.uk) to discuss. Many eligible sites have not yet received a designation and can be surveyed and then submitted for consideration.

There are no SSSIs within the curtilage of this Closed Church.

There are no Local nature reserves within the curtilage of this Closed Church.

There are no Local Wildlife sites within the curtilage of this Closed Church.

Evidence of the Presence of Bats

This field aims to record any evidence of the presence of bats in the church building or churchyard.

The church has no evidence of bats

Burial and War Grave Information

This field records basic information about the presence of a churchyard and its use as a burial ground.

It is unknown whether the church or churchyard is consecrated. Work in progress - can you help?
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial. Work in progress - can you help?
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial. Work in progress - can you help?
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
It is unknown whether the churchyard is closed for burial. Work in progress - can you help?
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
The churchyard does not have war graves.

National Heritage List for England Designations

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

There are no Listed Buildings within the curtilage of this Closed Church.

There are no Scheduled Monuments within the curtilage of this Closed Church.

Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

Churchyards are home to fantastic trees, in particular ancient and veteran trees which can be the oldest indication of a sacred space and be features of extraordinary individuality. The UK holds a globally important population of ancient and veteran yew trees of which three-quarters are found in the churchyards of England and Wales.

There are more than 1,000 ancient and veteran yews aged at least 500 years in these churchyards.

To put this in context, the only other part of western Europe with a known significant yew population is Normandy in northern France, where more than 100 ancient or veteran churchyard yews have been recorded.

Burial grounds may contain veteran and ancient trees of other species such as sweet chestnut or small-leaved lime which, whilst maybe not so old as the yews, are still important for wildlife and may be home to many other species.

Specialist advice is needed when managing these wonderful trees. For more information or to seek advice please contact Caring for God’s Acre, The Ancient Yew Group and The Woodland Trust.

If you know of an ancient or veteran tree in a burial ground that is not listed here please contact Caring for God’s Acre.

There are currently no Ancient, Veteran or Notable trees connected to this Closed Church

Churchyard Structures

This field is an index of the churchyard’s components.

Work in progress - can you help?

Significance

Setting Significance Level:

Significance is the whole set of reasons why people value a church, whether as a place for worship and mission, as an historic building that is part of the national heritage, as a focus for the local community, as a familiar landmark or for any other reasons.

Low
Setting Significance Description:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
The building has limited visual presence despite its hill top location. The building occupies a large churchyard with mature vegetation in a 1950s residential estate which provides some ecological value.
Fabric Significance Level:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Low
Fabric Significance Description:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
St Matthew’s is a church of local architectural and historical significance built in a single phase by local architects.
Interior Significance Level:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Low
Interior Significance Description:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Fittings and furnishings of low significance.
Community Significance Level:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Low
Community Significance Description:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
The church is of interest on local social and historical grounds built to accommodate a new local population.

Church Renewables

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Open the map of church renewable installations
Solar PV Panels:

This information forms part of the Shrinking the Footprint project.

No
Solar Thermal Panels:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
No
Bio Mass:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
No
Air Source Heat Pump:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
No
Ground Source Heat Pump:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
No
Wind Turbine:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
No
EV Car Charging:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Unknown

Species Summary

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

All of the species listed below have been recorded in close proximity to the Closed Church . A few species which are particularly threatened and affected by disturbance may not be listed here because their exact location cannot be shared.

NOTE: Be aware that this dataset is growing, and the species totals may change once the National Biodiversity Network has added further records. Species may be present but not recorded and still await discovery.

CategoryTotal species recorded to date
TOTAL NUMBER OF SPECIES RECORDED 0
Total number of animal species 0
Total number of plant species 0
Total number of mammal species 0
Total number of birds 0
Total number of amphibian and reptile species 0
Total number of invertebrate species 0
Total number of fungi species 0
Total number of mosses and liverworts (bryophytes) 0
Total number of ferns 0
Total number of flowering plants 0
Total number of Gymnosperm and Ginkgo 0

Caring for God’s Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.

To learn more about all of the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.

‘Seek Advice’ Species

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

If any of the following species have been seen close to the Closed Church, it is important to seek advice from an expert. You will need to know if they are present now, and to follow expert recommendations when planning works. All of these species have specific legal protection as a recognition of their rarity. All of them are rare or becoming increasingly endangered, so it is important to ensure that management and other works do not adversely affect them. In addition, there may be things you can do to help these special species. N.B. Swift and House Martin do not have specific legal protection but are included, as roof repair works often impact breeding swifts and house martins which is against the law.

This is not a complete list of protected species, there are many more, but these are ones that are more likely to be found. All wild birds, their nests and eggs are also protected by law, as are all bats and veteran trees. In a few cases, species are considered particularly prone to disturbance or destruction by people, so the exact location of where they were recorded is not publicly available but can be requested. These ‘blurred’ records are included here, and the accuracy is to 1km. This means that the species has been recorded in close proximity to the Closed Church, or a maximum of 1km away from it. As these ‘blurred’ species are quite mobile, there is a strong likelihood that they can occur close to the Closed Church. To learn about these special species, use the link provided for each species in the table below

One important species which is not included here is the Peregrine Falcon. This is protected and advice should be sought if peregrines are nesting on a church or cathedral. Peregrine records are ‘blurred’ to 10km, hence the decision not to include records here. Remember too that species not seriously threatened nationally may still be at risk in your region and be sensitive to works. You should check with local experts about this. You may also need to seek advice about invasive species, such as Japanese knotweed and aquatics colonising streams or pools, which can spread in churchyards.

N.B. If a species is not recorded this does not indicate absence. It is always good practice to survey.

No species data found for this record

Caring for God’s Acre can help and support you in looking after the biodiversity present in this special place. If you know that any of these species occur close to the Closed Church and are not recorded here, please contact Caring for God’s Acre with details (info@cfga.org.uk).

To find out more about these and other species recorded against this Closed Church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas.

The church was the centre of many people’s lives and remains a guide to their cares and concerns. Glimpses into those lives have often come down to us in the stories we heard as children or old photographs discovered in tattered shoe boxes. Perhaps your ancestors even made it into local legend following some fantastic event? You can choose to share those memories with others and record them for future generations on this Forum.

Tell us the story of this building through the lives of those who experienced it. Tell us why this church is important to you and your community.

Upload your photographs, share your videos, or compose your story below using a Facebook, Twitter, Google or Disqus account.

Refresh
WhoActionWhen
Oliver LackAdded SourceWed 04 Jan 2023 16:32:01
Oliver LackRemoved asset source linkWed 04 Jan 2023 16:31:28
Anna CampenModified asset data - Modified the Significance descriptionMon 10 Jul 2017 12:46:53
Anna CampenAdded object typeMon 10 Jul 2017 12:45:50
Anna CampenAdded interior feature typeMon 10 Jul 2017 12:45:20
Anna CampenAdded interior feature typeMon 10 Jul 2017 12:44:45
Anna CampenModified interior feature typeMon 10 Jul 2017 12:44:17
Anna CampenAdded interior feature typeMon 10 Jul 2017 12:44:04
Anna CampenAdded interior feature typeMon 10 Jul 2017 12:43:17
Anna CampenAdded interior feature typeMon 10 Jul 2017 12:42:44
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