Church, Leckhampton

CONSECRATION of St. Philip’s Church, Leckhampton. On Friday last the 1st of May, this very beautiful little edifice was consecrated by the Right Rev. James Henry Monk, DD. Lord Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol. The Church stands upon a piece of ground presented by Henry Norwood Trye, Esq. of Leckhamplon Court, and is situate near the intersection of Grafton street with Grafton road, next the eastern entrance to the Park estate. It is built in the style of architecture that prevailed during the middle portion of the 13th century; and contains sittings for the accommodation of 850 individuals, of which 350 are free and unappropriated. The clear internal dimensions of the Church are—length from east to west 70 feet, ditto including the chancel 85 feet; width 41 feet, and height 30 feet. The external appearance of the east and south fronts, (which, in consequence of the smallness of the funds, are the only parts that have been carried out according to the original design,) is exceedingly chaste, well proportioned, and highly enriched by elaborately worked triple light lancet-headed windows, with deep sunk mouldings, and octagonal buttresses, with moulded setoffs, surmounted by the triangular caps peculiar to the date, supporting octagonal pinnacles. The tower presents a highly ornamented and massive appearance, being enriched by a large triple light lancet-headed window, for the admission light to the chancel, worked in the same manner as those in the south front; an ornamental circular window with reversed flowered points, luffered windows, deeply moulded and sunk, with continuous labels. Coupled octangular buttresses, with moulded set-offs crowned by triangular caps, with turned crosslets, and a richly moulded and panelled parapet, with trefoil heads supported by moulded arched corbel course. From the angles rise four highly wrought pinnacles, ornamented by small shafts, with moulded caps and bases, sunk and moulded archivolts, and ribbed spires. The total height of the tower from the surface of the ground is 86 feet 6 inches. The external doorways (of which there are four) are moulded and worked in the same manner the windows, and are fitted with doors, beautifully ornamented with wrought iron tracery hinges. The interior of the Church is particularly neat and imposing. The principal features are—the ribbed ceiling with foliated bosses. The pulpit and railings front of the communion table (which are painted in imitation of stone) are exceedingly beautiful; the carved oak chairs, and the trefoil-headed gallery fronts. The spaces allotted to free seats on the ground floor are unusually well chosen both for seeing and hearing, occupying as they do the centre and most eligible part of the Church. By a singular arrangement seldom or never before adopted, a space for the vestry or robing room, has been gained behind the communion table, without encroaching upon the limits of the body of the Church internally, rendering it necessary to form an external adjunct. Beneath the floor is spacious and well arched crypt, for interments, approached by a wide flight of steps commencing at the south-west entrance gateway. The churchyard has been tastefully laid out, and planted with lime and sycamore trees; it is enclosed by low and massive stone wall, covered with very deep moulded coping, and strong ornamental wooden gates. The whole has been executed from the designs, under the superintendence of our talented and respected townsman. E. H. Shellard, Esq. architect, to whom great praise is due for the taste has shown in the execution of the designs, as well as the judgment and ability with which he has discharged the duties of his office.  The builders were Messrs Forty and Son, of this town. Thomas Billings, Esq. was the solicitor to the undertaking. The Church, which is situated in the midst of a rapidly increasing population, has been built under the Forty Years Act, and the laudable exertions of the Rev. C. B. Trye, the worthy rector of the parish, in promoting church extension among his parishioners, are deserving of the highest praise. He seems sensibly alive to the eternal interests of his people; and it must therefore be source much satisfaction him to see this building completed and consecrated.  [Cheltenham Chronicle 7 May 1840 page 3]

Reference : Cheltenham Chronicle 7 May 1840 page 3
Reference : Gloucester Journal 9 May 1840 page 4
Reference : Bristol Mercury 16 May 1840 page 8
Reference : Aris’s Birmingham Gazette 18 May 1840 page 1