Baptist Church

SOUTH BANK REDCAR ROAD EAST NZ 52 SW north side 3/106 Baptist Church - 11*

Baptist church 1905, by G. Baines & Son (London): recorded on foundation stone left of main doors. Red engineering brick with terracotta bands and dressings. Welsh slate roofs with terracotta ridge crestings. Disoriented, terms used are ritual. Clerestoried nave with aisles; paired gabled north and south transepts; short chancel; north-east and south-east vestries; and north-west and south-west towers. Arts and Crafts Gothic style with Perpendicular-style tracery. 3-bay west front with gabled centre flanked by slightly-projecting tapered 2-stage towers. Central paired segment-headed doorways up 3 steps, with panelled double doors in chamfered and moulded surrounds with poppyhead finials. Flanking buttresses have trefoil-headed panels under curved gables. Segment-headed window above, has hoodmould with similar finial and foliate stops. Ornate moulded ventilation grilles left and right of window, and plain triple vent slits in shaped apex of gable, flanked by similar buttresses rising above eaves, with metal brazier finials. Towers each have similar doorway below 3-light window, and pyramidal roof with similar finial on trumpet-shaped stem. Returns of nave each have three 4-light plain timber-mullioned clerestorey windows. 2-bay aisles, transepts and vestries all have similar but restrained details as west front. Stump of metal ventilation lantern on ridge of nave roof. All roofs have exposed shaped rafter ends at overhanging eaves. Interior: 4-bay wood arcades have square quasi-Tuscan columns with arched braces and ogee-shaped struts in spandrels. Straight braces to aisle rafters. False hammerbeam roof has arched braces, traceried spandrels and wrought iron ties with scrolled braces; ceiled above collars, with patterned vent panels. Patterned leaded-light windows have good coloured glass. Slightly raked floor with curved benches forming semi-circle. Curved and pierced bench-ends have metal umbrella brackets. Recessed glazed screen under west gallery with quadrant angles and blind traceried panelled front; holds similar pews. Organ, in chancel, fronted by similar choir benches, screen and square pulpit with chamfered corners; all with similar panelling. Ornate brass door fittings and scrolled balustrade to pulpit stair. Metal wall-vent covers with fleur-de-lys ornament. Patterned tesellated pavement with fleur-de-lys ornament, in entrance lobby. Cantilevered concrete staircase with iron stick balusters and moulded wood handrail ramped at landings and ends, in north-west tower. Church schools and hall dated 1934, adjoining east end, are not of special interest.

Listing NGR: NZ5352420781