Church of St Paul

The Church of St Paul is a parish church constructed in 1857 by Benjamin Ferrey, built in the Gothic style. A north aisle was added in 1860, likely also by Ferrey, with a south aisle following in 1869. Further additions occurred in 1897, including a choir vestry to the north east and an organ and organ chamber. Refurbishments in 1903 saw the installation of a new font cover, clergy stalls, a prayer desk, and pews. A west porch, matching the style of the building, was added in 1931. The church is built of flint with stone dressings and has a tiled roof, with a weatherboarded and shingled bellcote.

The church comprises a four-and-a-half-bay nave with a west bellcote, a lower two-bay chancel, a north-east vestry, and a west porch. The west front features a central projecting gable topped with a rose window, five lancets with arcading below, and a large square porch. The bellcote has a diagonal setting, a weatherboarded base, a shingled spire, and a cast iron cross. The gabled aisles have trefoil lights with triple arches and traceried central lights, separated by buttresses. A gabled porch with colonnettes is located to the south west. Large traceried windows are present on the aisles, along with a large traceried east window. The L-shaped vestry is situated to the south east.

Inside, the arcade features pointed arches supported by octagonal columns with stiffleaf moulding. The nave and aisles have arch-braced roofs, with the nave roof featuring tension braces, and are supported on corbels. A stone font with a circular top and an octagonal colonnette base is present, alongside a 1903 ornamental font cover and an octagonal pulpit with four marble colonnettes. Pews were installed in 1903. The south aisle contains a stained glass window from 1860 and another from 1873 depicting scenes from the life of St Paul. The north aisle’s east window is dedicated to Thomas Hope of Deepdene, depicting the Risen Christ, and includes an oak-panelled War Memorial with two painted angels. A particularly elaborate chancel arch features columns with stiffleaf capitals and marble columns. The chancel has an arch-braced roof with arched tension braces and a band of trefoils. Marble-lined walls flank a marble wall monument to George Turnour Horton Aitchison, who died in 1861. Stained glass windows depict "Pray that ye enter not into temptation," the Adoration of the Magi and Shepherds, and "Raising of the Daughter of Jairus." Wooden communion rails and elaborate clergy stalls dating from 1903 are also present. The sanctuary features fine quality Minton tiles and a reredos, partially obscured by a later 20th-century curtain, that contains painted angels and a marble base.

The site for the church was donated by Henry Thomas Hope of Deepdene, while the funds for its construction were provided by Henry Labouchere of Broome Hall.