Congregational Church, High Street and Grosvenor Road, Ilford

ILFORD’S NEW CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH: LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE – Last Saturday four foundation stones of the new Congregational Church were laid. …..  Mr. A. E. Willshire secretary of the Building Committee made a statement concerning what his committee had done. It was formed in May 1898. in consequence of a resolution passed at a special meeting of the church. Appeals were distributed on 6 June for funds, and the result was that promises amounting to about £1.500, spread over a period of five years, were received. Messrs. J. D. and S. J. Mould were appointed architects, plans were prepared and finally adopted on 13 March 1899. In the next month the Metropolitan Essex Committee made a grant of £1,000 towards the erection of the church. The tenders were received on 21 July, but were unsatisfactory, and successful tenders were obtained in October. On January 5 this year the building contract was signed. and the work was progressing as satisfactorily and as quickly as the funds would allow.

Mr. J. D. Mould (architect) next gave a description of the new church. Speaking on behalf of his brother and himself. he appreciated very much the manner in which the building committee had met them. He then proceeded to describe the church. The site on which it stood was 117 feet long by 84 feet wide. There was a space of about 15 feet in the front, and for the rest the site was practically built all over. They (the architects) were not allowed to choose the shape of the building. Practically the site had to be all taken up. for the space was none too great for the number of people requited to be accommodated. Referring to the style of architecture. Mr. Mould said it was not the traditional English ecclesiastical style. That was out of the question, as in a church for the use of a Congregational community it was important that every person should be able to see and hear. Columns, naves, etc., would not, therefore, be tolerated. The style of a central octagon was consequently adopted from the sides of which projected the chancel, transepts. and recesses, making the building in the form of a. square. The octagon would be covered by a conical roof. surmounted by the ventilating apparatus. Theie would be a tower and a spire. The extreme length and width of the church would be 100 feet by 74 feet, and the distance across the octagon 68 feet. The length and width of the chancel would be 23 feet by 25 feet. To the highest point of the ceiling the distance was 44 feet, and from the floor to the base of the spire 134 feet. The height from the floor to the ventilator was 67 feet. There would be three entrances in front and separate entrances for the minister and choir. These would be available as extra exits, and there would be exits in each transept. making seven in all. A spacious vestibule would run across the whole of the building in front. On one side of the chancel there would be a vestry for the officers and the choir, and on the other one for the ministers. These would be connected. The rostrum would be on the eastern side of the chancel. The great bulk of the congregation would sit facing the preacher. That portion of the floor near the rostrum would be flat, but further back it would slope upwards. The style of architecture adopted was the Late or Perpendicular English Gothic. The materials to be used would be red bricks. relieved with light stone dressings, and the colours would harmonise exceedingly well, especially in the clear atmosphere of the neighbourhood. The heating and ventilating apparatus had not yet been decided upon. There would he accommodation for about 980 (it course, it would seat many more than that number when crowded. [West Ham and South Essex Mail - Saturday 7 April 1900 page 2