Stained Glass of Percy Bacon & Brothers

Christ Church by William Wiggington. Photo circa 1905. Public Domain Image.

William Wiggington's plan for Christ Church. 1870.

Map of 1870 showing the area of land acquired from Charles Jacomb for the building of Christ Church on the
corner of Rendlesham Road and Kenninghall Road(then known as London Road).

Image reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland, under reuse license CC-BY (NLS).

Map of 1939 showing the location of Christ Church on the corner of Rendlesham Road and Kenninghall Road, with the vicarage to the south, and a Sunday school at the east end. By 1939 a great deal of the land around the area had been given over to housing.

Image reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland, under reuse license CC-BY (NLS).

Christ Church, Rendlesham Road, circa 1905.

Posted 11 May 2023.

As London expanded rapidly in the 19th century, there came a pressing need for more churches to serve the growing population. A new generation of churches in Gothic splendour arose, their style fuelled by the evangelical protestations of the Ecclesiological Society which saw its role as judge and jury of what was acceptable. Often churches were built large to accommodate many hundreds of people; in the case of Christ Church Clapton, the specification called for free seating for 700. These new churches were not simply boxes, but spectacular additions to the local skyline, adorned with steep roof-lines, high towers and spires. This was the front line for the saving of Victorian souls, many of whom would have migrated from a parochial countryside to work in the cities. Inside, new churches were richly endowed with polychrome reredos, mosaics, carved screens and stained glass. A. W. N. Pugin said, "A properly beautified church was the very face of Heaven", and many were richly adorned. Many an architect would compete to provide an edifice worthy of its place in the community, but always with an eye on the budget.

In 1868 an iron church, seating 350 and served by an assistant curate from St James parish was opened in Walsingham Road, just to the north of the permanent site acquired for Christ Church.¹ This was on the corner of Kenninghall Road (then known as London Road) and Rendlesham Road (south side). The land was acquired from Charles Jacomb in 1866 and conveyed to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners in 1870. In late 1869 or early 1870 a competition was opened for the design of the new church, and it is certain that at least two architects, James Brooks and William Wiggington, stepped up to the plate. The cost of the church was not to exceed £5,000, economy being a primary consideration, and provide seating for 700 souls.² Brooks was known for his "powerful and moving" churches built in the slum areas of London: St Michael's, Shoreditch (1863), St Saviour, Hoxton (1864), St Columba (1867) and St Chad (1868), both in Haggerston. His design for Christ Church Clapton James Brooks' design for Christ Church, Clapton, including parsonage and school. This design was exhibited at the Royal Academy Architectural Exhibition in 1870.
Image from The Building News and Engineering Journal, 05 Aug 1870.

James Brooks' design for Christ Church: Interior View. This design was exhibited at the Royal Academy Architectural Exhibition in 1870.
Image from The Building News and Engineering Journal, 05 Aug 1870.

included a parsonage and school, and was relatively well received at the time, at least by the Building News and Engineering Journal correspondent commenting on the design submitted for the Royal Academy Architectural Exhibition of 1870; "Nothing could be plainer or more simple than the treatment, yet nothing could be more impressive and dignified both in the interior and exterior of the building".² Not everyone agreed. Even though Brooks did not win the gig from the commissioners, he included his sketches at another Royal Academy exhibition in 1873 and drew the ire of one commentator who stated; "...why does Mr. Brooks indulge in such eccentricities as the light iron open belfry, set unequally on the ridge of the church, which, if not absolutely ugly, is anything but pleasing or effective, and surely more costly than a simple wooden bell-turret such as he knows so well how to design".³ Brooks's design drew heavily on the influence of J. L. Pearson, and appears to follow the latter's treatement for St Peter's, Vauxhall (1860), especially the semi-circular apse, and regular, repetitive clearstorey windows which run uninterrupted around the outer walls, nave and chancel being completely integrated, and a barrel roof. Presumaly for added economy, Brooks's aisles were windowless, but this would permit further internal decoration in the form of murals when monies became available, though it would deny the addition of stained glass without the considerable expense of creating new openings.

Both Brooks's and Wiggington's designs called for brick, being the more economical choice over stone, only certain dressings being of that material. Wiggington's design William Wiggington's floor plan for Christ Church, Clapton. 1870. however, is all the more restrained, and angular, perhaps with the sole exception of a magnificent rose window in the west wall, rather than the lancets envisaged by Brooks. The foundation stone for Christ Church was laid on 30th August 1870 and the building consecrated by John Jackson the Bishop of London on 6th May 1871.

Percy Bacon Works in Christ Church

In 1910 Percy Bacon & Brothers installed stained glass in the east window. It was described by The Builder as being, "Of five lights and tracery", the subject matter being, "Our Lord in Majesty in the centre light, with various subjects from the life of Our Lord in the side lights". Unfortunately no more detail of the subject matter has yet come to light for this project.⁴

Christ Church circa 1905. Public Domain Image.

Image of the north side of the church taken shortly after 10th October 1940. At this time the north aisle roof and nave roof were still in situ, though the north aisle wall was blown out.

Image of the north side of the church 1940.

Image of the north side of the church 1940.

The bombed-out remains of Christ Church, circa 1940.

Destruction of the Church.

On 10th October 1940 a German bomb landed close by the north side of the church. From surviving photographs of the aftermath, it appears the north aisle wall was completely demolished, leaving the aisle and north porch roofs intact, though hanging precariously over the void left by the walls. In this photograph Photograph taken from the north of the church on Kenninghall Road, probably taken shortly after the church was damaged by an enemy bomb on 10th October 1940, shows the aisle roof and north porch still standing, though the aisle wall is completely blown out. , probably taken shortly after the damage was caused, the nave roof also looks to be (at least partially) still in situ. Later photographs (see right) show the remains of the north porch, north aisle and north side nave roof completely missing, most probably deliberately removed to make the shell safe. Between 1944 and 1952 services were held in a nearby hall and St James (now on Lower Clapton Road). The church was finally demolished in 1953, and the site is now occupied by modern apartment blocks.

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1. British History Online website.
2. Building News and Engineering Journal, 05 August 1870, p101.
3. The Architect Magazine, 10 May 1873, p243.
4. The Builder 12 Nov 1910: Vol 99 Iss 3536, p593.