Vestry Tiles, St Andrew's, Rugby

Aidan McRae Thomson
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Vestry Tiles, St Andrew's, Rugby
Vestry Tiles, St Andrew's, Rugby

Rugby's parish church of St Andrew is an imposing landmark in the town centre, and highly unusual in possessing two towers, one 15th century with battlements at the west end, and the tapering steeple by William Butterfield at the north east corner, part of his rebuilding of the ancient church. (unusual as this two-towered church is, the town's catholic church also evolved in a similar way, thus both major churches share the effect of asymmetrical towers, a unique situation in Britain).

The arrangement was even more impressive until 1983 when the massive nearby 1870s George Gilbert Scott church of the Holy Trinity, technically sharing the same churchyard, was tragically demolished.

The medieval St Andrew's had already been much altered, having begun life as a village church it was gradually expanded to serve the growing town. The nave had been enlarged in the 1800s and by the time of Butterfield's further expansion of the building in 1877-85 only the west tower and the north nave arcade survived of the medieval building. These were retained, the old nave effectively becoming the north aisle (and outer north aisle!) of a much larger nave built to the south, complete with south aisle and a lofty chancel.

The interior is therefore every bit as eccentric as the exterior, with Butterfield's characteristic use of coloured stonework and a sanctuary rich in marble finishes. The most dramatic feature is the chancel arch surmounted by a cross adorned with geometric patterning and supported by richly carved corbels. The font too betray's Butterfield's love of contrasting coloured marbles.

The stained glass in the main east and west windows (along with the north and south windows of the sanctuary) is by Clayton & Bell. The remainder, in the aisles and the large Baptism window under the north steeple (difficult to see since conversion to a vestry) is all the work of Burlison & Grylls of London, with their characteristic neo-Flemish fine drawing in subdued tones.

The church is usually open and welcoming during the day with a small cafe set up at the west end. I am especially grateful to Helen Bryant on my latest visit for giving me access to the vestries to photograph the glass there.

www.standrewrugby.org.uk/

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Taken on: August 12, 2024
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Camera: Panasonic DMC-TZ70, f/4.9, 4 sec, 16.1mm, ISO 80 (more info) (hide info)
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