Church of St Mary and Parish Hall

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TQ 18 NE 1157/4/10002

KENTON ST.LEONARDS AVENUE Church of St Mary and parish hall

II*

Anglican Church and parish hall. 1935-6, to the designs of J. Harold Gibbons, the builders Messrs Melsom and Rosier of Wealdstone. Brick and stone trim; concrete. Roofs of tile. Lady Chapel of one rib vaulted bay with north and south clerestorey windows, placed, unusually, on first-floor level and set off from the chancel by a parapet wall. Chancel of two bays with carved baldachhino. South transept of one bay, serving as base of south tower; exceptionally high and narrow transept arch and two-light window; ceiled by painted, ribbed barrel vault. Shallow north transept of two bays with shallow transverse segmental barrel vault to each bay. Nave of three bays with aisles and deep west organ gallery with organ of early C20 date; nave clerestorey. South aisle is quite narrow and lit by paired lancet lights, some with stained glass.

North aisle is broad and lit by trios of flat-arched windows; good stained glass to several windows. Well massed gallery stair associated with stone baptismal font in northwest corner of nave, the combination a signature feature of Gibbons' designs. Rood with carved figures, gilded and painted. The roof to crossing a quadripartite rib vault; ribbed and painted pointed barrel vault to the nave. Colour scheme appears original: ceiling dark blue with light green and white details; the concrete walls of the interior largely unpainted.

Exterior: west elevation with pair of lancet lights in stone surround. Recessed entrance porch with double doors and ornamental hinges of an original design. Lean-to north aisle roof. South aisle flat roofed, the ceiling inside coffered. Traceried lights confined to east half of church. Sacristy under Lady Chapel. Vestries to northeast and southeast corners. Noteworthy features include: original wood block paving set in herringbone pattern; wood pulpit and tester to south side of nave, polished marble chancel pavement and steps, electric light fittings to nave and sanctuary lamp.

Second entrance in base of south tower, leading into transept. Three-bay round-arched arcade, known as the cloister, runs from east face of tower to clergy house/parish rooms; these, in turn, run perpendicular to the main axis of the church and form one side of a deep forecourt to Kenton Road. The latter structure, designed from the same materials as the church and in a complementary style, are included for their group value. The style of the whole a reduced Gothic Revival. The quality of construction and finishes is extremely high. The refined details of the design, scale of the interior, and the harmonious colour scheme/lighting make for a truly exceptional interior.

Listing NGR: TQ1718488783