St Stephen's, Hampstead, by Samuel Sanders Teulon
Samuel Sanders Teulon, 1812-1873, was responsible for 114 new churches during the Victorian period, and in the recasting and renovations of these, his quirky style becomes noticeable; his style was so eclectic and unusual, Teulon was considered a rogue architect by critic, Goodhart-Rendall. Although unusual, Teulon was in fact a Gothicist and the majority of the motifs found in his work have their origins in the 13th and 14th centuries. His buildings are dominating in effect and may be considered somewhat course, but such traits only add to the way in which Teulon’s romantic and sometimes flamboyant personality shines through into his designs.
St. Stephen’s, in Hampstead, England, was considered by some critics a ‘climax to [both] a career and life’. It was the architect’s most expensive church, costing an astronomical £27,000. According to Teulon’s obituary, the architect was quite pleased with the result of his work at St Stephen’s and would often, during its construction, refer to it as his ‘mighty church’. Teulon unfortunately became ill during its building, and the finished structure would sadly witness his funeral; and it only adds to the tragedy that two of the three stained glass memorial windows, designed by Clayton and Bell, would be stolen in 1982, several years after the church’s closure.
The church was the result of the cooperation between Revd. Joshua of St John’s Chapel, also in Hampstead, who later become the first vicar, and Charles Lardiner Wood, who was the main benefactor. Lord Ebury laid the foundation stone in March 1865 and the consecration took place on 31 December, of the same year.
The aisles, porches, West narthex, south transept, organ chamber and vestry were added in 1870 and the tower was completed in 1871. The font was donated, and presumably decorated by, Ewan Christian, who also paid for one of the nave capitals. Salviati designed the internal mosaics. The nave is exactly three times the length of the chancel and sanctuary; the church itself is 120 feet long. The style is derived from the French Gothic and is made of Dunstable Plum brick banded with Kentish Rag and Granite; the inside is of a light-coloured Huntingdonshire brick. The interior originally seated 900 and had its nave ‘arcading on sandstone columns’. The narthex contained a West gallery that opened into the nave through three-segmented arches- the main window is decorated with plate tracery. Teulon designed the foundation which consists of ‘brick arches on concrete bases’ to protect it against the effects of the river fleet which runs underground nearby. Between 1896-1902 the building, especially the West end, was reinforced to prevent any movement; however, movement in the foundation occurred rather significantly in 1969 and would play a large part in the building’s closure in 1977.
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