Church Of All Saints

Church of All Saints

A parish church built between 1865 and 1868 in the Gothic Revival style, specifically designed for High Church Tractarian worship. The building was designed by architect John Middleton and constructed by builder Thomas Darby. It is considered Middleton's finest church, despite the intended spire never being built.

The church is constructed of rough-faced Cleeve Hill stone with Bath stone ashlar and bands of blue Forest stone dressings, with tiled roofs. It adopts a French Gothic style. The plan comprises a five-bay aisled nave with clerestory, transepts, an apsed chancel, north and south porches, and a south-west tower.

The exterior is remarkable for its extensive sculptural programme. The west facade features groups of sculpture representing the Church Militant and Church Triumphant. The carved west tympanum depicts Christ enthroned. The entrance has six orders of arches on granite shafts, with angels carrying coats of arms of benefactors and of the architect. Surrounding the entrance are statues of Saints Augustine, Lawrence, Stephen, Paul, Agnes, Christopher, Sebastian and Martin. Two two-light windows and a large rose window complete the west facade.

The interior is richly decorated with colour throughout. A polished red granite arcade runs through the nave, complemented by polychromy in the stonework. Painted murals adorn the west end, a painted ceiling and embellished apse enhance the chancel, and tile floors and painted decoration in the tower add further richness. The nave features a ship's keel roof with apostles in niches to the arcade spandrels, and roundels in the upper part containing figures representing the Twelve Tribes of Israel. A carved and embellished pulpit and a screen by HA Prothero are notable interior furnishings.

Later additions and alterations include interior furnishing of 1877, a vestry of 1883, an organ installed in 1887, a chancel screen of 1894, an apse added to the Lady Chapel in 1898, and further refurbishing around 1907. The Lady Chapel apse and interior fittings were designed by HA Prothero and by Boultons of Cheltenham. The organ of 1887 has a case designed by P Millington and Prothero and was painted by Miss L Beasley and JM Smith. The refurbishing of around 1907 was carried out by Temple Moore. The carved tympanum was created by A Burrall.

The stained glass is an outstanding collection dating from the 1880s-1890s. The rose window at the west end was made by Sir William Blake Richmond. The rose window in the south transept was designed by Edward Burne-Jones and made by Morris and Company. All windows in the north transept were created by Heaton, Butler and Bayne. A complete scheme of windows shows Old Testament figures and pious Christians throughout the church.

The church is the most spectacular of Middleton's several churches in Cheltenham, which also include St Mark on Church Road, St Philip and St James on Gratton Road, St Stephen on St Stephen's Road, and Holy Apostles on London Road in Charlton Kings.