St Aldhelm

Grade II listed. Designed by WD Caroe (1857 – 1938), a British architect noted particularly for churches. St Aldhelm's is a brick church with low side aisles, a fleche (small spire) on the crossing and a bell turret at the west end and it was built in a somewhat unusual style. Described in its listing as “Gothic style very individually interpreted with Art and Craft influence” and by the important Pevsner architecture guide as 'idiosyncratic' and 'playful', it has been called one of Caroe's 'pretty toys' and, rather like the Tardis, it seems larger on the inside than the outside. 

The church layout and windows show the influence of Victorian Gothic on the design, and Arts & Crafts details include the beautiful ironwork on our doors and windows. But Caroe's design also hints at modernism, especially in the beautiful capitals of the pillars below the clerestory windows.

The interior of the church is unusual in that the striking reredos painting behind the altar and all of its stained glass were done by the same artist, Walter Starmer, who painted the famous murals in the Grade I listed church of St Jude on the Hill, Hampstead Garden Suburb. The reredos depicting the Ascension was added in 1947 as a War Memorial and the charming and intimate stained glass windows were added over the next few years - they mostly depict individual figures, either saints or characters from the Bible. 

To the east and north of the church, the churchyard serves as an Edible Garden, looked after by church and community and providing food for the foodbank held in the church. At the west is a memorial garden. There are benches provided and the gardens are open every day. 

The church is busy and much loved by its own congregation and by the community around. Hot drinks are generally available when the church is open and on Tuesdays in term time a pop-up coffee shop is run by students from the local special school.