PLYMOUTH |
The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History |
|
|
St Barnabas' Church was situated in Stuart Road, Stoke, Devonport. The old Church has now been demolished but the congregation still meet in a new, smaller St Barnabas' Church in the former Sunday School building at the rear. This also houses a doctor's surgery and community centre. Built as a chapel-of-ease to Stoke damerel Parish Church, St Barnabas was designed in the Early English (Pointed) style by Mr J Piers St Aubyn of Messrs St Aubyn, Wadling & Luff, of London and Devonport. The west end was erected in 1885 and had a temporary and rather low roof. When completed the Church had a nave measuring 79 feet 6 inches in length by 51 feet 6 inches in width. It was 33 ffet 6 inches high from the floor to the wall plate and 54 feet high to the ridge. It was divided from th aisles by arcades of five bays on each side, with Ham Hill stone piers and brick arches. The north and south aisles were 8 feet 6inches wide while the chancel measured 36 feet by 20 feet. there were north and south transcepts and the vestries were under the chancel. The walls were lined with red bricks, relieved with bands of yellow bricks. The font was of polished Devon marble. Externally, the Church was faced with limestone with window and door jams of Candy's bricks. St Barnabas Church was built by Mr Roskelly, of Gunnislake, in Cornwall, at a cost of £6,500. It could accommodate 600 worshippers. Although opned on Christmas Day 1893, the consecration service did not take place until St Barnabas Day, Monday June 11th, 1894. Doctor Bickersteth, the Bishop of Exeter, performed the ceremony in the presence of Lord St Levan, Mr Piers St Aubyn, the Reverend Prebendary W H St Aubyn, rector of Stoke Damerel, and a large gathering of the local clergy. Over 200 people attended the free tea held afterwards in the school room. The ecclesiastical parish was formed in 1904. The Sunday School attached to St Barnabas' Church was taken over from February 21st 1917 by pupils displaced from Paradise Road Elementary School, which had been handed over to the military authorities for use as a temporary hospital during the Great War.
|
