St Augustine's Church, Lipson

St Augustine's Church
St Augustine's Church in about 1915, prior to the completion of its west end in 1933.
Religion
AffiliationChurch of England
Demolished
1904
Location
LocationLipson, Plymouth, Devon, England
Interactive map of St Augustine's Church
Coordinates50°22′55″N 4°07′32″W / 50.3819°N 4.1255°W / 50.3819; -4.1255
Architecture
ArchitectsKing & Lister of Plymouth
TypeChurch
StyleGothic
Completed1933

St Augustine's Church was a Church of England church in Lipson, Plymouth, Devon, England. Built to the designs of King & Lister of Plymouth, the church's crypt was built between 1899 and 1900, and initially served as a mission church until the main building was completed. Construction of the church was carried out between 1901 and 1904, but the west end was not completed until 1933. During World War II, the church suffered major damage in an aid raid and was rebuilt between 1950 and 1954. After closing as a place of worship in 1993, it was demolished in 2001 and replaced by the student accommodation block, St Augustine's House.

History

Construction of St Augustine's

St Augustine's Church was one of a number of churches to be built under the Three Towns Church Extension Scheme for Plymouth and Devonport, launched in 1897.[1] In order to provide a new church for the area of Lipson, the Three Towns Church Extension Society found a suitable site at the bottom of Alexandra Road and purchased it for £1,130 in 1898.[2] The plans for the church were drawn up by architects King & Lister of Plymouth, who designed a church capable of seating up to 750 people.[3]

The foundation stone was laid by the Bishop of Exeter, Edward Bickersteth, on 21 July 1899. The first phase of construction was the church's crypt, which was opened and dedicated by the Bishop of Crediton, Robert Trefusis, on 23 November 1900. It served as a mission church until the permanent church was built and had seating for 300 worshippers.[1] Construction began on the north aisle and vestry between August 1901 and the spring of 1902. The chancel, organ chamber, north porch, and three bays of the nave, north and south aisles were commenced in October 1903.[2] Due to limited building funds, the west end of the church was to be completed at a later date.[3] St Augustine's was consecrated by the Bishop of Exeter, Archibald Robertson, on 15 October 1904.[2] It had seating for about 500 worshippers.[4] St Augustine's became a parish church when the ecclesiastical parish of Lipson was formed in 1905.[4]

Fresh efforts commenced in May 1930 to increase the building fund and it had reached a sufficient amount for completing the church in 1932. Construction of the west end began in May that year and extended the church by about 30 feet. It included one large bay, a smaller bay, a west porch and a north-west choir vestry. The new addition was dedicated by the Bishop of Exeter, Lord William Cecil, on 23 April 1933. The total cost of the church, minus its furnishings, was £13,000.[5]

World War II bomb damage and reconstruction

The church was badly damaged in an air raid on 13 June 1943 and the congregation were forced to worship at St Matthias Church at North Hill.[6][7]

On 15 March 1945, the Bishop of Plymouth, Whitfield Daukes, consecrated and formally reopened the church's partially repaired crypt for Sunday services.[8] This continued for a few years, although it was reported in 1949 that the crypt was "very damp" as the damaged north side and temporary roof were not waterproof.[7]

Plans were made for St Augustine's to be rebuilt as an "identical reinstatement" except for the spire on its roof, which was to be moved from the centre to the west end of the building.[7] The plans were drawn up by architect Ivan S. Hodgess of Plymouth and the cost of reconstruction was covered by the War Damage Commission. With the approval of scheme in 1949, the first phase of reconstruction began in 1950 on the crypt and walls.[9] In May 1950, the Bishop of Plymouth dedicated the canteen of the nearby Beechwood Factory for its use by the congregation as a temporary church.[10]

The crypt was rededicated by the Bishop of Plymouth, Norman Clarke, on 20 July 1951. It saw use as both a temporary church and hall until the main building was reconstructed.[11] St Augustine's was completed and reopened in 1954.[12]

Closure of church and demolition

St Augustine's closed as a place of worship in 1993 due to a dwindling congregation and the high costs of maintaining and heating the building.[13]

In 1994, the Indoor Climbing Company proposed a £250,000 scheme to transform the church into an indoor climbing centre.[14][15] The scheme was approved in 1995,[16] but the company were unsuccessful in obtaining Heritage Lottery Funding and subsequently pulled out of negotiations with the Church of England.[17]

The site of the church awaiting redevelopment in 2011.

In 1998, the Church of England's Redundant Churches Committee were considering demolishing the church to make way for housing as they failed to find a new use for the building.[18] A demolition scheme was approved by the Church Commissioners in 2001.[19] Outline planning permission was also granted that year for the demolition of the church and the redevelopment of the site with a 6-storey building containing 36 sheltered housing units, a community church and hall, and parking.[20] The demolition of the church was carried out in 2001, but the site remained "overgrown derelict land" for over ten years. A new redevelopment scheme was approved in 2010 for a 6-storey building of 85 units of student accommodation, St Augustine's House, which was built between 2012 and 2013.[21]

Architecture

St Augustine's was built of granite, with dressings of Doulting stone. The church was originally fitted with oak seating and stalls.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 "St. Augustine's, Plymouth". Western Morning News. 24 November 1900. p. 5. Retrieved 24 June 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "St. Augustine's, Plymouth. Awaiting Consecration". Western Morning News. 14 October 1904. p. 8. Retrieved 24 June 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  3. 1 2 "Signed King & Lister - Incorporated Church Building Society (ICBS)". images.lambethpalacelibrary.org.uk. Retrieved 24 June 2026.
  4. 1 2 "Kelly's Directory of Devonshire 1915: Plymouth". leicester.contentdm.oclc.org. Retrieved 25 June 2026 – via University of Leicester.
  5. ↑ "St. Augustine's Event. Extension Now Complete". Western Morning News. 21 April 1933. p. 4. Retrieved 24 June 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. ↑ "Damage to Plymouth". Western Morning News. 12 July 1943. p. 2. Retrieved 24 June 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. 1 2 3 "Only one alteration when St. Augustine's is rebuilt". Western Morning News. 25 January 1949. p. 3. Retrieved 24 June 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. ↑ "St. Augustine's Church". Western Morning News. 3 March 1945. p. 3. Retrieved 24 June 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  9. ↑ "Bombed church may be reopened in 1951". Western Morning News. 2 December 1949. p. 3. Retrieved 24 June 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  10. ↑ "Factory canteen church dedicated by Bishop of Plymouth". Western Morning News. 15 May 1950. p. 5. Retrieved 24 June 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  11. ↑ "Service in crypt". Western Evening Herald. 19 July 1951. p. 2. Retrieved 24 June 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  12. ↑ "1954 target for restoration of St. Augustine's". Western Morning News. 6 September 1952. p. 5. Retrieved 24 June 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  13. ↑ "Closed church will be sold off". Plymouth Evening Herald. 14 October 1994. p. 28. Retrieved 24 June 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  14. ↑ "Planning applications". Plymouth Evening Herald. 6 December 1994. p. 14. Retrieved 24 June 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  15. ↑ "Commando's high aims in old church". Plymouth Evening Herald. 25 February 1995. p. 4. Retrieved 24 June 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  16. ↑ "Disused church to be all up the walls". Plymouth Evening Herald. 1 March 1995. p. 5. Retrieved 24 June 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  17. ↑ Grant, Steve (6 June 1996). "Climbing group in bold bid to scale Lotto peak". Plymouth Evening Herald. p. 5. Retrieved 24 June 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  18. ↑ "Bulldozer threat to church". Plymouth Evening Herald. 6 March 1998. p. 15. Retrieved 24 June 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  19. ↑ "Diocese of Exeter" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 February 2014. Retrieved 24 June 2026.
  20. ↑ "Planning – Application Summary: 00/01360/OUT". planning.plymouth.gov.uk. 10 November 2000. Retrieved 24 June 2026.
  21. ↑ "Planning – Application Summary: 09/00005/FUL". planning.plymouth.gov.uk. 6 January 2009. Retrieved 24 June 2026.
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