Saturday 16 May 2020

St Andrew, Wimbledon

St Andrew's sits tucked away, despite being just a few minutes' walk south from the main shopping area. This isn't the upmarket Wimbledon of the tennis or the Common, but of modest terraces and social housing built originally for the working class.

Founded as a mission church of Holy Trinity Church on the Broadway, the first temporary building was opened in 1883. A growing congregation soon required something more permanent, and architect William Henry Lowdell delivered a competent if unremarkable neo-gothic design in red brick with sandstone detailing, featuring an impressive 8-light west window about the main doorway. The building was consecrated in 1909, and St Andrew's became a parish in its own right in 1910.

The interior has a nave with 4 bays of arcades, with wide pointed arches on round piers, and a Lady Chapel. Most of the glass is clear: the east window contains images of Christ enthroned flanked with the patron saints of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales.

The church has a traditional service at 9am and a more informal service at 10:30, with a 'play and praise' service especially aimed at parents with young children at 10:00 - full details are on their  website.

St Andrew, Herbert Road, Wimbledon, London SW19 3TJ