The Guardian Angels Roman Catholic Church

Guardian Angels Roman Catholic Church, Mile End Road

A Roman Catholic church built between 1901 and 1903, designed by F.A. Walters in the Perpendicular style. The church is constructed of red brick with Ancaster stone dressings, features a copper-sheathed fleche, and a slate roof. Walters was a late follower of Pugin's principles and one of the leading Roman Catholic architects of his generation, best known for his work at Buckfast Abbey in Devon.

The building is aligned north-south with its liturgical east end to the north. The entrance is positioned to the right, beneath a tower, with the presbytery (listed separately) to the east. The interior plan comprises a three-bay nave with a gallery at the liturgical west end, a Lady Chapel at the liturgical north-east, and a two-bay chancel.

The western elevation facing the street is dominated by a large seven-light traceried window set beneath a shouldered gable. Below this are four openings to the crypt. A blocked arched doorway with crenellated parapet stands to the left of the main entrance. The principal entrance features a moulded brick arch with an Arts and Crafts-influenced bronze grille embellished with the IHS monogram. Triple arched niches with cusped heads and stone canopy flank narrow lancet windows, beneath a crenellated hood mould of stone. A single lancet opening with hood-mould sits above. The upper part of the tower is octagonal with a crenellated parapet, slatted two-light belfry openings to the main sides, and blind brick arches to the angles. A short fleche with pinnacle crowns the tower.

The interior of the nave features moulded piers supporting broad moulded arches, with clerestory windows containing pairs of plain leaded lights. The roof is an open scissor-trussed design carried on brackets carved with angels holding shields embellished with sacred monograms. The chancel arch is flanked by stone niches containing statues of St Thomas à Becket to the north and St Dunstan to the south. A stone pulpit in the Perpendicular style stands to the north of the arch, with a relief of an eagle to its front set within blind tracery. The entrance to the crypt lies to the south of the chancel arch. The chancel itself has moulded piers with stone reliefs of angels holding shields decorated with instruments of the Passion, and a coffered ceiling. The Lady Chapel to the north contains the organ. Below the church lies a large crypt comprising two main chambers.

Notable fixtures include a rood screen inscribed "REGNAVIT A LIGNA DEUS" (God ruled from the wood), a panelled openwork altar by Earp and Hobbs, and a tabernacle with an enamelled gilt door. The east window, designed by N.H.J. Westlake, depicts Christ in Majesty flanked by the Virgin Mary and St Joseph, with Saints Margaret of Scotland and Clare in the outer lights. Wrought iron gates to the Lady Chapel and crypt entrance were created by Bainbridge Reynolds. A total immersion font of stone, of recent date, stands in the centre of the nave, designed by Matteo del Preti.

This church succeeded a mission chapel opened in 1868 by Archbishop (later Cardinal) Manning, which provided the first Catholic place of worship in the area. The present church was funded by Lady Mary Howard in memory of her sister Lady Margaret. The foundation stone was laid in October 1901, and the building opened for worship on 25 March 1903. It forms a carefully designed group with the neighbouring presbytery.