Engravings scanned, and text reformatted, by Jaqueline Banerjee. You may use these images without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the person who scanned them and (2) link your document to this URL or cite it in a print document.
OUR principal engraving this week represents the schools and priest's house, with part of the church [of St Francis of Assisi] adjoining. The buildings are of plain stock bricks, enlivened in parts with bands of black bricks. The bell-gable, corbels, and mullions of the windows and string courses, are of stone. The schools and home are particularly well arranged, considering the position of the buildings generally and the surface covered. A very effective and useful feature is the window, which has a view from the priest's living-room into the open court and roadway beyond.
Left: Plan of Schools and Baptistery. John Bentley, archt. Right: Priest's house, with part of the church adjoining.
The church is worthy of a visit, although the interior is as yet very unfinished. What is done is in a sincere and thoroughly artistic manner. The altar of St. John is designed by Mr. Bentley. The altar-piece and small frontal pictures are some of the best works of Mr. Westlake. They are interesting in a technical view, having been painted in encaustic on slate, the effect being thoroughly ecclesiastical. The windows are worthy of study, each of them presenting a new feature and new character. These were all designed by Messrs. Westlake and Bentley, and were put into glass by Messrs. Lavers and Barraud. The baptistry promises to be one of the most complete little chapels in England. The materials are all excellent, and the design very effective. [44/47]
The crucifix is one of the best works of Phyffers, executed in a bold and masterly manner. Mr. Westlake is now proceeding with a set of stations around the church; they are of water-glass. We are much pleased with the effect as far as the work has gone. The altar-piece over the high altar is decaying, owing, it is believed, to the work having been executed before the church was quite completed and dry.
Mr. Bentley, of Southampton-street, Covent-garden, is the architect.
Links to Related Material
- The church of St Francis of Assisi, by Henry Clutton and J.F. Bentley
- Thomas Earp's work on the High Altar
- Lavers & Barraud, and N. H. J. Westlake (1833-1921): An Introduction (Westlake's relationship with Bentley)
- Westlake's work on the Altars of St John, and in the Lady Chapel
Bibliography
"The Schools and Baptistery of St Francis of Assisi, Notting Hill, Bayswater." The Building News and Engineering Journal, Vol. 10. 16 Januarry 1863: 44-47. HathiTrust, from a copy at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Web. 13 May 2024.
Created 13 May 2024