Garrison Church of St Barbara

Garrison Church of St Barbara at Deepcut Barracks, built in 1901, possibly by manufacturers Humphreys.

The church is constructed of galvanised corrugated iron sheeting on a timber frame, with walls and roofs painted. It is orientated north-west to south-east, with the liturgical east end at the south-east.

The plan consists of a five-bay nave with a west narthex, north and south aisles, transepts (internally containing store rooms and vestry), a chancel with vestry and storerooms to the north and south, and a canted apse at the east end.

The west elevation is dominated by the principal entrance through the narthex, which projects as a lean-to structure with a central gable. The narthex doorway is a pointed arch containing double doors of vertically boarded timber with strap hinges and scroll embellishments. Above this is a large window in the nave gable with three-light Y-tracery. The aisles have windows with cusped lights and quatrefoils. The narthex is lit by a strip of arched windows wrapping around the front and sides; these have diamond leaded lights with various military and ecclesiastical emblems. Iron cross-finials surmount the gables of the narthex and west end.

The north and south elevations are divided into five bays, each containing a four-bay aisle with two-light windows per bay. The south aisle has an additional west window. To the east, each elevation has a taller gabled transept; the south transept is windowless while the north transept has an external door like the narthex, with trefoil windows to the clerestory. The roof has three dormers to each side and a short square timber fleche with a cross finial. The chancel apse features tall narrow windows. Gabled projections attached to the chancel link internally to the transepts, providing the vestry and stores.

The interior is light and open, with painted timber match-boarding on walls and roofs stained dark below dado level and timber boarded floors. The aisles are wide and defined by square timber columns at each of the five bays, these are chamfered with moulded bases and capitals and stiffening braces. Exposed roof trusses follow the same rhythm with scissor braces and quatrefoil details at the junction with the clerestory. Two single doorways symmetrically positioned on the west wall lead to the narthex. Internal doors are framed, vertically boarded, and have pointed arched heads.

The sanctuary features a low altar rail with turned timber spindles creating a balustrade. Benches line the sanctuary sides, while a pair of pulpits with fielded panels and applied military insignia stand in the chancel. Pews occupy the Lady Chapel (east bay of south aisle) and choir stalls are provided. The organ pipes rise in the Lady Chapel, where there is an oak reredos in three sections depicting Christ and angels. The font stands at the west, with a bowl in dove marble and base in Caen limestone.

The church contains extensive regimental fittings and memorabilia. The east windows, re-sited from Portobello Barracks, depict St George, Christ in Glory and St Patrick. Three cusped pointed arched stained glass windows separating the vestry were re-sited from Hilsea and are dated 1926. On the west wall is a plaster relief panel depicting St Michael fighting the dragon, above which is the archangel's west window. The stained glass windows of the north and south aisles commemorate various RAOC and RLC-related milestones, people and events, as well as dedications to St Barbara. A large First World War Roll of Honour is situated in the narthex. Numerous plaques and memorials, a stained glass panel and cases containing flags and banners are fixed to the church walls. Flag standards are suspended from the clerestory.