St Stephen's, Twickenham

St Stephen's, Twickenham
East Twickenham – St Stephen
St Stephen's Church
St Stephen's, Twickenham
51°27′12″N 0°18′47″W / 51.4534°N 0.31304°W / 51.4534; -0.31304
TQ 17315 74059
LocationRichmond Road, Twickenham TW1 2PD
CountryEngland
DenominationChurch of England
Websitewww.st-stephens.org.uk
Architecture
Architect(s)Lockwood & Mawson[1]
StyleGothic Revival[2]
Years built
1874[2]
Specifications
MaterialsKentish rag (exterior); brick (interior)[2]
Administration
DioceseDiocese of London
ArchdeaconryMiddlesex
DeaneryHampton
Clergy
VicarLibby Talbot
Listed Building – Grade II
Official name
Church of St Stephen
Designated19 March 2008
Reference no.1392477

St Stephen's, Twickenham, is a Church of England church on Richmond Road in East Twickenham in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. Its vicar is Libby Talbot.[3]

History

The congregation dates from 1720 when a chapel was founded for the inhabitants of the newly built Montpellier Road with a capacity for a congregation of 250.[4] With the opening of St. Margaret's railway station, the population grew and the new church building was commissioned to seat 1000 on the current site, the land donated by the Little family.[4]

The church is unusual in that it does not adhere to the typical east-west orientation but instead faces north, due to the triangular shape of the donated land between Richmond Road and the ancient right of way St. Stephen's Passage.[4]

A financial appeal to fund the construction of the church was launched in 1873, well exceeding the target £7000 within five months.[4]

The architects T. M. Lockwood and T. H. Mawson were commissioned to design the church and the foundation stone was laid in 1874 by the Duchess of Teck.[4] The foundations were completed by December 1875[4] and the nave was consecrated. The church became operational in 1876, at which point the Montpellier chapel was closed and used by various secular businesses until its collapse in 1941.[4]

The chancel was added in 1885 and the tower in 1907, its consecration by the Bishop of Kensington marking the completion of the building. Further changes included the addition of the Centenary Room in 1976, the Spring in 2011 and the adaptation of the disused choir vestry into the current prayer chapel.[4]

Most of the stained glass windows are by Alfred Octavius Hemming (1843–1907). The organ, installed in 1889, is one of the best preserved Henry Willis & Sons organs in London.[1]

The building is Grade II listed.[5]

Services and events

On most Sundays three services are held, with the second two services including contemporary worship. The second service coincides with children's groups. Services are recorded and accessible online.[4]

Other activities include worship evenings, craft mornings, two youth groups of different ages and prayer meetings.[6] Members of the St Stephen's congregation also regularly attend the annual HTB Focus festival.[7]

HTB network and church planting

St Stephen's is part of the Holy Trinity Brompton network and delivers the Alpha course. In 2019 Christ Church Feltham reopened, planted from St Stephen's.[8] St Stephen's is a regular attender of the HTB Focus festival.[7]

St. Stephen's CofE Primary School

St. Stephen's School, Twickenham, a mixed, state-run, Church of England primary school on Winchester Road, is affiliated with St Stephen's Church and regularly holds events there. Incorporated into the school building is a chapel built on the northernmost edge of the parish (the exterior on Chertsey Road bears a plaque reading 'St Stephen's Church Hall').[4]


References

  1. 1 2 Cherry, Bridget and Pevsner, Nikolaus (1983). The Buildings of England – London 2: South. London: Penguin Books. p. 539. ISBN 0-14-0710-47-7.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. 1 2 3 Reynolds, Susan, ed. (1962). A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 3, Shepperton, Staines, Stanwell, Sunbury, Teddington, Heston and Isleworth, Twickenham, Cowley, Cranford, West Drayton, Greenford, Hanwell, Harefield and Harlington. London: Victoria County History. pp. 157–161.
  3. ↑ "Staff team". About Us. St. Stephen's, Twickenham. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Parish, David. "A brief history of St. Stephen's". St Stephen's, Twickenham. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  5. ↑ Historic England (19 March 2008). "Church of St Stephen (1392477)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
  6. ↑ "Events | St Stephen's Twickenham". St Stephen's, Twickenham. Retrieved 28 July 2026.
  7. 1 2 "Focus | St Stephen's Twickenham". St Stephen's, Twickenham. Retrieved 28 July 2026.
  8. ↑ "Our Story | Christ Church Feltham". Christ Church Feltham. Retrieved 28 July 2026.
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