Chapel Of St Michael The Archangel, Caterham Guards Depot

The Chapel of St Michael the Archangel, built in 1885-86 by William Butterfield, served as a garrison chapel for the Brigade of Guards at Caterham Guards Depot. Its construction was privately funded. The building is primarily yellow stock brick with flint and chessboard flint detailing, complemented by ashlar dressings and a tiled roof.

The plan incorporates a nave with aisles, the north aisle extending to the chancel, and a south aisle similarly extending to the east gable. There’s a southeast organ chamber, and a northwest and southwest porch.

Architecturally, the chapel exhibits Decorated Gothic Revival style. The north aisle features a gabled end, while the south aisle has a lean-to roof. Two-centre arched windows with Decorated Gothic tracery are a prominent feature in both aisles. The east gable is characterized by angle buttresses, a diaper band, and a three-light window with chessboard detail above. The north side displays brickwork to the cill band, paler brick to the impost band, and flint above. A lean-to vestry adjoins the east bay, and a brick porch with a hipped roof is present in the west bay. The east end of the south side includes a gabled organ chamber, while the west gable features a corbelled brick belcote with diaperwork, a weathered top with a cross finial, and a bell in a two-centre arch. Numerous trefoil-headed windows are strategically placed. The western porches have chamfered two-centre arched doorways and strap hinges.

Inside, the four-bay nave features yellow and brown banded columns supporting two-centre arches, with half round responds leading to wider piers. The roof is a timber barrel vault with a paired truss over the chancel arch, including a king post and large quatrefoils. Original fixtures include an octagonal timber pulpit on a stone base, a lectern, pews, and a 1887 organ by Walker. A marble, full-height statue of the Duke of Wellington, complete with sword, stands in the southwest porch, dated 1903.

The chapel’s simple massing contrasts with the rich use of materials and the clear, unobstructed internal space, representing an interesting example of a smaller church designed by Butterfield. Stop-chamfered spine beams with run-out stops are also present.