Church Heritage Record 623530

Skip over navigation

Core DetailsLocationBuildingInteriorChurchyardSignificanceEnvironmentForumAudit

St Paul Onslow Square

Name:

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

St Paul Onslow Square
Record Type:

A classification of the current status of the building

Church
Church code:

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

623530
Diocese:

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

London
Archdeaconry:

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

Middlesex
Parish:

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

Holy Trinity w St Paul, Onslow Sq and St Augustine, Sth Kensington

Please enter a number

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 a Grade II Listed Building
View more information about this Listed Building on the National Heritage List for England web site
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

Please enter a number

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
 **************

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.

Victorian/Pre-WWI

Exterior Image

Exterior image of 623530 St Paul Onslow Square
Caption:

603242 

Exterior image of 623530 St Paul Onslow Square
Description:

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

Photograph of the exterior of Onslow Square St Paul church taken 21 February 2006
Year / Date:

2011, April 06

2006
Copyright:

Keltek Trust

Archbishops' Council
Originator:

Keltek Trust

Unknown

Summary Description

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
The main front of the building faces Onslow Square at the south-west corner, and the spire which rises above the main door is an important feature in the square. The orientation of this church is confusing, since it virtually reverses usual practice in having the chancel at the west end, and in any case to fit the street pattern, it in fact lies more east-north-east / west-south-west. The impression of the main front, in Onslow Square, is of a set-piece, which is a good foil for the formality of the neo-Italianate houses round the square. The effect of the whole ensemble is much enhanced by the trees in the gardens opposite the church.

Visiting and Facilities

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
The church is open for worship.
Work in progress - can you help?
 **************

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
Unknown (2006) Exterior image of 623530 St Paul Onslow Square [Digital Archive/Graphic material]
Exterior image of 623530 St Paul Onslow Square
Unknown (2006) Interior image of 623530 St Paul Onslow Square [Digital Archive/Graphic material]
Interior image of 623530 St Paul Onslow Square
Church of England (2021) A Church Near You https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/15476/ [Digital Archive/Index]
View information on worship and access at this church
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: TQ 268 785

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

Administrative Area

Great London Authority:

The administrative area within which the church is located.

Greater London Authority

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.

Onslow Square is part of the sequence of streets and gardens between the Old Brompton Road and the Fulham Road which was laid out in the 1850s and 60s the houses being built in the ubiquitous ‘Kensington Italianate’ style, as Osbert Lancaster has called it. The spire of the church rising at the south west corner of the square is a most striking feature of the area. The parish was carved from that of Holy Trinity, Brompton in 1861.

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.

Tower and spire, seven-bay nave without aisles or transepts, shallow chancel flanked by stairs to galleries on north, south and west sides. Crypt.

Dimensions

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

Footprint of Church buildings (m2):

Small (<199m2)

Medium (200-599m2)

Large (600m-999m2)

Very Large (>1000m2)

882 m2

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.

The date of the church, 1860, is surprising in light of its style, which flourished about twenty years earlier. The clue to its later date is the spire externally but there is no guide-line inside. The chancel was added in 1889 by Wallace, a development which was criticised at the time on liturgical grounds as being too Tractarian.

The church hall to the south of the church was added in 1876 by architect Edward C Robins and then enlarged by Wallace in 1893. A further church hall was built in front of the earlier one in 1932 by William Doddington but this was demolished when the parish rooms, including a vicarage and curate’s residence, were built in 1969-70.

St Paul’s was originally made redundant in late 1970s and remained so for about a decade. It was brought back into use for worship as a Chapel of Ease to Holy Trinity Brompton. In the 2000/1 the north and south galleries were adapted to contain office accommodation.

Much of the furnishings and fittings were removed during the period of redundancy.

Exterior Description

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

The lateral walls of the nave, which are not seen much from any angle, have seven bays divided by buttresses. The western bay has a door in the ground floor, above which is a short, three-light window. The remaining six bays have tall three-light windows with cinquefoiled heads divided halfway by a transom which corresponds with the level of the galleries inside. The walls stand on a plinth which follows round the buttresses and there is an unpierced parapet. The chancel projects little beyond the nave and there is a projection in the corner which houses a staircase. The liturgical 'east' window of the chancel has seven lights with much panel tracery and quatrefoils above. The whole composition is flanked by slim pilaster buttresses. 

The north side of the church is obscured by the rectory, but reflects the design of the south, except that the church hall of 1876 adjoins at the north-east corner. 

The tower has an ogee-headed doorway in the Perpendicular style in the lowest stage. There are no crockets as might be expected in a door of this style, but the stron finial does cut into the dripstone-shaped string-course which forms the sill for the window above. The window has three ogee-headed cusped lights with panel tracetu above and the hood-moulding has bunches of leaves at the stops. The clock is above this, interrupting a strip of panelling in Bath stone. 

At the next stage, the broaches for the spire begin in the upper part and between them is a two-light belfry opening. The angle buttresses which have risen through four set-offs here terminate in crocketted pinnacles. the base of the spire is marked by an octagonal parapet, with castellations. 

The aisle walls of each side of the tower meet it in the centre of each side so that it is half surrounded by the nave.

Architects, Artists and Associated People/Organisations

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Who:
HMDW Architects Ltd
Role:
Architect / Surveyor ICM55
From:
To:
Contribution:

Building Fabric and Features

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

Skip Navigation Links.
Collapse Building Fabric and FeaturesBuilding Fabric and Features
STAINED GLASS (Unknown)
STAINED GLASS (Unknown)
STAINED GLASS (Unknown)
STAINED GLASS (Unknown)
STAINED GLASS (Unknown)
STAINED GLASS (1906)
STAINED GLASS (Unknown)
STAINED GLASS (Unknown)
STAINED GLASS (Unknown)
STAINED GLASS (Unknown)

Building Materials

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

Skip Navigation Links.
Collapse Building MaterialsBuilding Materials
KENTISH RAGSTONE (Unknown)
SLATE (Unknown)

Interior Image

Interior image of 623530 St Paul Onslow Square
Caption:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Interior image of 623530 St Paul Onslow Square
Description:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Photograph of the interior of Onslow Square St Paul church taken 21 February 2006
Year / Date:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
2006
Copyright:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Archbishops' Council
Originator:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Unknown

Interior Description

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

The interior of the church is long and broad. The galleries, supported on octagonal cast-iron columns, fill all three sides of the nave completely, abrupting at the chancel arch. All the galleries are panelled and painted pale cream. 

The wide arch of the liturgical 'east' window is reflected in the even wider chancel arch which opens into a shallow sanctuary. 

The roof of the chancel is constructed in three narrow bays, and the timbers are carried on corbels of stone carved with foliage. The roof is a vestigial hammer-beam design. The areas between the rafters are panelled.

On the liturgical 'east' wall, the reredos runs the whole width of the building in three sections, each of three arcaded bays, and above rises the 'east' window. 

The nave is carpeted in a deep red.

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).

Skip Navigation Links.
Collapse Internal Fixtures and FittingsInternal Fixtures and Fittings
ALTAR (1927)
BELL (1 of 2)
BELL (2 of 2)
FONT (OBJECT) (Unknown)
ORGAN (OBJECT) (1885)
REREDOS (1890)

Portable Furnishings and Artworks

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

Work in progress - can you help?

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: TQ 268 785

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 Church.

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

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

There are no Scheduled Monuments within the curtilage of this 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 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.

Work in progress - can you help?
Setting Significance Description:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Work in progress - can you help?
Fabric Significance Level:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Work in progress - can you help?
Fabric Significance Description:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Work in progress - can you help?
Interior Significance Level:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Work in progress - can you help?
Interior Significance Description:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Work in progress - can you help?
Community Significance Level:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Work in progress - can you help?
Community Significance Description:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Work in progress - can you help?

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 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.

No species data found for this record

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 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 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 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 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 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 SourceThu 24 Nov 2022 11:01:30
Oliver LackAdded SourceThu 28 Jul 2022 11:27:11
Oliver LackAdded fabric typeThu 28 Jul 2022 11:22:48
Oliver LackAdded fabric typeThu 28 Jul 2022 11:22:26
Oliver LackAdded fabric typeThu 28 Jul 2022 11:22:02
Oliver LackAdded fabric typeThu 28 Jul 2022 11:21:19
Oliver LackAdded fabric typeThu 28 Jul 2022 11:20:52
Oliver LackAdded fabric typeThu 28 Jul 2022 11:18:39
Oliver LackAdded fabric typeThu 28 Jul 2022 11:16:54
Oliver LackAdded fabric typeThu 28 Jul 2022 11:15:27
First Previous Next Last 
Page 1 of 3 (27 items)
Page size:
Site Map  | Privacy | T & C | © 2014 - 2025 Archbishops' Council  | Web site by exeGesIS SDM | Rev. 3.4.8529.22773
  • Home
  • Login
  • Register
  • Church Search
  • Site Map