Description

TL 04NW KEMPSTON URBAN BEDFORD ROAD

2/90 Church of the
Transfiguration
-

- II

Parish church. 1938-40. By J. Harold Gibbons FRIBA. Largely paid for by
legacy from Anne Charles-Williamson. Red brick with ashlar dressings. Hipped
clay tile roofs. Oriented roughly N-S (following orientations are therefore
liturgical). Nave, S aisle, N aisle, Chancel, E chapel on higher level, S
porch adjoining projecting gable and bellcote. Style is mixture of simplified
Gothic and Arts and Crafts movement. Nave has clerestory to S only, with
windows of 3 cinquefoiled lights under square heads. Full height pointed arch
gives onto projecting gable and porch. Single storey round-headed arcades, 3-
bays to E, 2 bays to W, open onto flat-roofed S aisle. 3-bay N arcade of
1½ storey height has pointed arches. Both aisles have square-headed
windows, S ones mostly 4-lights, N ones mostly 5-lights. Gallery to W end of
nave continues across N aisle as first floor block with curving wall, on brick
piers, within angle formed by nave and N aisle. Chancel is continuation of
nave although lit by clerestory window to N as well as S. E wall has 2 flat-
arched openings onto passage which in turn gives onto vestry. First floor
chapel, overlooking nave, has 5-light E window with semi-circular head and
ogival and pointed-arched tracery. Chapel is reached by stairs in small block
with hipped roof at E end of S aisle. S porch has round-headed arch with
hoodmould with carved heads to stops. Gable has large lancet window with
cusping. Bellcote rises out of porch and has corner stone carved with cross
and inscription: "For God's Glory. 31.7.1938". Interior: barrel vaulted roof
to nave and chancel, half barrel vault to N aisle.

Listing NGR: TL0346247948

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26607468

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Oxfordshire: North and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Churches: An Architectural Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  This Old House: Restoring, Rehabilitating, and Renovating an Older House
• 
  Wiltshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Liverpool: Pevsner City Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
• 
  Cork: City and County (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)