Former Church Of St Paul

A red-brick church built in 1890–1 by architect Henry Cowell Boys. It is designed in a severe Early English style and represents one of many suburban Anglican churches constructed at the end of the 19th century to serve expanding London communities, using economical materials and architectural approaches.

The church is constructed of red brick laid in English bond with minimal stone dressings. The roofs are covered in clay tiles (renewed in 2009), except for the distinctive bell-turret over the crossing, which is tile-hung with a timber top and slate-hung chamfered spire above. The plan comprises a nave with north and south aisles, south porch, north and south transepts with a bell-turret at the crossing, a chancel with chancel aisles, and vestries wrapping around the east end.

The exterior is dominated by lancet windows throughout, reflecting the Early English style. The east window consists of three high-set graded lancets. The transept windows feature a mandorla set above a pair of lancets. Both the nave and chancel clerestories contain lancet windows, one per bay. The aisles are covered by lean-to roofs. The most distinctive external feature is the attractive Arts-and-Crafts-style tile-hung, louvred timber belfry with its slate-hung chamfered spire above the crossing. Between the north transept and chancel stands a round stair-turret topped with a short spirelet. The south porch has a deeply moulded head of three orders and engaged shafts to the jambs. At the west end is a double entrance portal.

The interior walls are plastered and painted. The nave contains four bays, plus an additional bay to the transepts. The nave bays have double-chamfered arches under hoods, supported on circular piers with moulded capitals and bases. The arches to the transepts and chancel are similar but considerably taller. The north aisle is separated by a partition of glass and wood, in place by 1966.

The original fittings have mostly been replaced with modern seating of contemporary chairs. At the east end of the chancel hangs a large painting of Christ in Majesty by Eva Allen Andrews, dating from 1898–1900. South and west stained glass windows are by Cakebread Robey and Co.

Henry Cowell Boys (1846 or 1847–1900) was a City-based architect articled to Richard Tress and Francis Chambers in 1864, remaining as an assistant to Chambers until 1870 when he established independent practice. He became architect to the Grocers' Company and designed their livery hall in 1889–93. This church appears to be his only known ecclesiastical building. After becoming redundant for Anglican worship in the latter part of the 20th century, the church was taken over by the Celestial Church of Christ and subsequently by the Seventh Day Adventists around 2006.