St Saviour Church - Warwick Avenue, London, UK
N 51° 31.406 W 000° 11.049
30U E 695337 N 5711794
This church was built on the site of a former church in 1976. Modern building materials and techniques were used in its construction including the spire that is made from fibre glass.
Waymark Code: WMEZF9
Location: London, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 07/28/2012
Views: 2
My personal feeling is that this building is a monstrosity
whilst other may find it appealing. My sympathies lie with older churches that
have character. I guess it is what takes place inside the building that matters
and, no doubt, the flavour of religion offered here is the same as in old
buildings.
The church's website (visit link)
gives a touch of history:
"The Church of Saint Saviour
St Saviour’s is a striking, angular and soaring 1976 brick church
adjacent to Warwick Avenue underground station.
Its hexagonal interior is light and welcoming, providing
a fantastic setting and focus for mass and worship.
History of the building
The current brick structure replaced a vast gothic structure made
of kentish ragstone and built around 1855, by Thomas Little architects for the
princely sum of £12,140. It also contained later contained two 31” bells, made
by Mears in Stainbank in 1876, to replace the original small
bell.
This old building was demolished in 1972 and it was
replaced by a contemporary brick structure,designed by Michael Biscoe, of (then)
Biscoe and Stanton architects. The original church was deemed too large for its
1960’s congregation and it was proposed that the new design for the site
accommodate a block of flats at the rear of the new development.
St Saviour
in the past
Suggestions by the Paddington Waterways & Maida Vale
society to maintain the church's original tower were reportedly ignored. A
vertical feature it was felt was desperately needed in the area as Warwick
Avenue is one of the broadest streets in London.
The church construction was completed in 1976, but by
that time, one of the original bells was damaged in an attempted theft. The last
remaining bell was hung, and chimed electronically, in the new fiberglass
spire."
The same website (visit link)
advises of service times:
"Monday - 6:30 pm Low Mass
Wednesday - 6:30 pm
Low Mass
Friday - 6:30 pm Low Mass
Sunday - 8:00 am Low
Mass and Homily
Sunday - 11:00 am Solemn Mass and
Homily"