Timeline of works & repairs

This timeline summarises the longer Chronology of site acquisition, works and repairs, c.1811—1980. Researched and published by Dr Rebecca Preston, September 2019.

Dr Preston’s full Chronology of Works document shows the full set of references.

1811

An Act to enable the trustees of certain lands, called the Stone-fields, situate in the parish of St Mary Islington in the county of Middlesex to grant building leases thereof for a term not exceeding 99 years

1824

Islington statute passed 17 June 1824 (Board Mins, 3 May 1825)

Church site ‘already obtained and railed in’ by 19 July 1824 (Letter from Wilson to Comms – all other refs from this type of ms unless otherwise stated)

The land has been let in parcels, on building leases, for 81 years, commencing 25 March 1824 to John Emmett, Dorset Goepel, Philip Langhorn, David Sage, and Richard Chapman, and is now covered with buildings and streets, among which are Cloudesley Square, Cloudesley Terrace, Stonefield Street, &c., Lewis, 1842

1825

Petition by Rev Wilson for the site in ‘Islington Square near White Conduit House’, about 150 feet by 120, [to be] the first & principal new church or chapel to be erected in the parish’, June 1825

Mr Savage of Walbrook appointed as architect to the intended Church in Stonefields at Islington Square, 6 July 1825

Savage’s plan ‘very highly approved’ by the Commissioners, 9 August 1825

Called Cloudesley Square, 12 August 1825, but continues also to be known as Islington Square until at least 1826

Tenders advertised for Islington New Church, applications to James Savage, 25 October 1825

Savage presents plans for a church to hold 2,000 sittings at £12,000 & with incidental expenses £13,200 and Comms had agreed on 11 October but in the meantime it was found necessary apply for exemption from the rent charge to the New River Co and so the start of building is delayed til the following spring, 7 November 1825

1826

When the tenders come in, errors are found in Savage’s calculations for materials and labour and the lowest tenders exceed the estimate by £5,195: his excuses are unsatisfactory and the parish is requested to obtain plans from another architect, January 1826

Intended church at Islington Square, Charles Barry, Architect: Gothic of the 16th century with turret and vaults; cast iron is introduced in the columns supporting the west Galleries, estimated cost £13,142 (undated, c. Jan-March 1826)

Barry’s plans accepted for a church in Islington Square, March 1826

Barry asked to reduce expense from £12,845 to £11,000: general style and character of building approved, for 2009 sittings, but on a reduced scale, April 1826

First stone laid 15 July 1826

Benjamin Davies appointed Clerk of Works, 17 July 1826

Commissioners’ Surveyor reports that the falling platform for the vaults would be most conveniently placed for funerals within the vestibule at the west end of the church, 21 August 1826

While digging the foundations, Barry finds it necessary to turn the course of the sewer which runs through the site of the church; his estimate of £89 17 is accepted, as is the suggestion to omit the foundation stone ceremony at Cloudesley Square and Ball’s Pond to make up for the expense, August 1826 (a record of Aug 1825 indicates the sewer runs from the Back (Liverpool) Road)

Barry’s estimate (and drawing) of proposed new sewer (186ft run of brick sewer and 60ft run of 12in gun barrel drain: £89 17, n.d., c.August 1826

Building commenced, September 1826

Commissioners of Sewers request that the sewer should be made in such as a way as to raise the estimated cost to £159 19, to which they eventually contribute around £66, October 1826

Basement walls level with surface of the ground, 20 October 1826

Barry reports extra work necessary in the foundations in consequence of several gravel pits found below the general level of the footings of the main walls, est £55 19, 30 October 1826

Estimate of Frederick Selane, German stove maker, of Pembroke Palace, Vauxhall Bridge Rd., for two furnaces, 12ft by 10ft, £280, 25 November 1826

Basement walls complete, plinth set all round the building, 21 December 1826

Walls covered up to protect from frost, workmen preparing materials for the spring, 26 December 1826

1827

When the tenders come in, errors are found in Savage’s calculations for materials and labour and the lowest tenders exceed the estimate by £5,195: his excuses are unsatisfactory and the parish is requested to obtain plans from another architect, January 1826

1827

Barry requested to prepare drawings of the exterior parts of the organs for the three churches, contracts for which to be issued, 3 March 1827

Organ tender to give prices for mahogany and wainscot cases, 17 March 1827

Russell’s tender accepted for the organ building (with some reservations about his ability to complete); Barry agrees that wainscot ‘equally and more appropriate than mahogany to the interior of the Buildings’ and so £76 deducted from Russell’s contract, 5 April 1827

The whole of the walls of the building are carried up to the height of the aisle roof, the gallery timbers are fixed, and the nave pillars are in a forward state, expecting to finish July 1828, 22 June 1827.

The timbers of the roof fixed, south aisle slated and the other part of the slating in progress. Turrets at the west end expected to be finished by Christmas, joiners’ work in a state of forwardness, works satisfactory, 12 November 1827

1828

Barry to advertise tenders for enclosing the church, 22 May 1828

Whole of the exterior completed, plastering in forward state, nearly the whole of the joiner’s work prepared and some fixed, will be finished December 1828, May/June 1828

Plastering to aisle ceilings complete and remainder of plastering in forward state; joiners proceeding with the floor of the galleries, a considerable part of which is laid, 3 June 1828

Whole of the exterior completed, plastering in forward state, nearly the whole of the joiner’s work prepared and part-fixed, 19 July 1828

Barry: ‘there is but little do now at Cloudesley Square Church’, 15 December 1828

Barry: ‘the stained glass for the Great East Window … will be ready for fixing next week – would it not be prudent to have it protected by wire work as it is within stone’s reach of the road?’ about £25, and desirable that it should be fixed at the same time as the glass, 27 December 1828

1829

Barry puts advertisement in the papers re the iron railing that was formerly in Cloudesley Square, 7 January 1829

Chapel consecrated by Bishop of London 19 March 1829

It is a beautiful structure, in the pure Gothic style, after the model of King’s College Chapel, Cambridge, and is calculated to seat upwards of 2000 persons … The Altar is embellished with a fine stained window – a capital organ is placed in the organ loft, which is raised above the west gallery. Morning Advertiser, 21 March 1829

Organ ready for inspection, 6 April 1829

Total cost of building with enclosure, including architect’s commission at 5%, £11,899 10 8, 5 May 1829

1842

Unspecified repairs undertaken in c.1842 as stated in 1867 – but perhaps took place during 1844, below:

1844

Church closed and “thoroughly cleaned” according to Vicar’s history of 1929; organ moved to “a more advantageous position” according to special anniversary no of HT Parish Magazine, March 1929

1854

St Pancras Cemetery, Finchley, consecrated 25 July 1854: 30 acres of which were sold to the Burial Board of St Mary, Islington, The Burial Acts, 1857

1855

Order to cease burials, 21 May 1855 (but discontinued at least a year earlier)

1862

Pulpit, reading desk, and Communion table recovered with crimson velvet at expense of unknown donor in congregation, Islington Gazette, 18 October 1862

1867

£2,000 sought for unspecified urgent repairs (£1,200) and improvements (£800) as specified by the unnamed architect appointed, Islington Gazette, 12 July 1867;

Habitual neglect of the building complained of in response to the appeal for funds, Islington Gazette, 16 July 1867

1867 (Autumn)

Church thoroughly repaired inside and out; ‘chancel remodelled, new Vestry offices built’, the interior re-lighted, and other necessary repairs carried out at a total cost of £1775 – works by Doves; Mr Christian: £70 14s Architect’s Commission (this appears in the accounts in HT Vestry Minutes of Easter 1870)

[c1867]

Basil Clarke in Churches of London (1966) states that the church was restored by Ewan Christian, ‘who did the usual things: the organ was removed and choir stalls were inserted’. This appears in the CARE report of 1968 as ‘the eastern bay of the nave was furnished as a chancel by Ewan Christian, with pulpit and choir stalls of a conventional Gothic kind’ and in the 2005 listing entry as ‘Eastern two bays of nave refurbished by Ewan Christian in 1901; and repeated in Pevsner. Hence confusion on dates and architects. But no drawings found and only one contemporary mention of Christian’s name, as seen above. This is when the SE vestry is added – confirmed by maps of Cloudesley estate and 1871 (survey date) OS.

1868

£800 still outstanding from the repair fund

1879

New choir stalls, prayer desk and lantern for jubilee celebrations – according to 1929 centenary no of parish magazine

1885

Organ moved “(presumably from the west gallery to the chancel) and improved at a cost of £180”, according to special anniversary no of HT Parish Magazine, March 1929

1889

The present (in 1929) iron pulpit given by churchwarden (HT Parish Magazine, March 1929)

1895

Organ cleaned and new stops added (HT Parish Magazine, March 1929)

1896

Easter Vestry report on unsatisfactory state of plaster due to leaking roof, reported in 1901

1898

Unspecified £113 repairs completed, part-funded by City Parochial Charities Fund (CPF)

1901

By 1901 (plan in faculty itemised below)

£2,900 wanted (+£100 added by hand) for major works: ceilings and walls further damaged due to unsafe state of roof, rain will decay plastering and woodwork and portion of plaster may fall at any moment; stonework seriously decayed, some parts dangerously so: £563 to put it in order and removals of dangerous pieces at £83.

£509: exterior works including roof made watertight, brickwork and masonry cleaned and repointed, window protected with wire and railings repaired

Very desirable that pinnacles, finials, coping and other stonework be repaired and restored at same time: £480 extra

Interior works – propose to remove all existing uncomfortable box pews, take down north and south galleries which the church was never designed to have erected, to alter and enlarge the west gallery, and for the purpose of improving general acoustics to slightly raise the east end of the church (£298). Est for modern pews in Orlam wood, £512 10s

Whole church including ceilings, walls and woodwork needs thoroughly cleaning and painting, and the stone pillars to be rubbed down so as to restore the original colour of stonework: extra £440, without any stencilling but inc repairs to windows; moderate stencilling recommended by architect, £55 extra

Proposed to put vaults in order, repair furnace and place iron bars to vaults at £55 10s;

£50 to improve ventilation; £116 to correct the gas lighting, or £150 for electricity – all from report by H. H. Tasker, FSI, Architect, March 1901

[Henry Hugh Tasker, architect and local district surveyor]

Faculty allowing: removal of N & S galleries, alteration and enlargement of W gallery and new modern open pews throughout; raising of the E end: the choir and Chancel, 7in so that there is one step to the Holy Table instead of two and removal of retable; to slightly lower pulpit and to move the lectern from the centre of the nave to the N side and the font to the S side, and install electric light throughout. Total est £3,000 inc repairs to roof and stonework and interior cleaning and painting. Citation, 1 June 1901

Tasker signs the drawings for the 1901 alterations and see below for the fee the Diocesan Surveyor, R. Philip Day.

‘It is about 33 years since any material improvements were undertaken’ [i.e. in 1867-68] Tasker in 1901 fundraising pamphlet

1902

£2,000 (of the £3,000) works signed off as completed by Philip Day, ARIBA, in restoring the fabric of the church, 21 July 1902

1904 HT accounts 1904: Expenditure (excluding small amounts):

1904

Two windows erected in 1904 to the memory of Lawrence Major, HT School teacher (according to HT special anniversary no, 1929)

1906

Sudden demand for new drains, the inspectors would not wait, est £91 17 4, October 1906

1906c.

Undated plan of drainage system to church ‘pre-1913’ according to LMA catalogue, possibly relating to the 1906 works

1912

New installation of heating apparatus completed, by E. Beesley, water engineers of 376 Caledonian Road (and HT auditor), £200 or more, stamped 21 February 1912

Necessary repairs, est £733: roof to be made watertight, all ironwork and woodwork and exterior to be painted including railings. brickwork to be repointed and perished stonework replaced; whole of interior to be washed down, defective plastering repaired, all colour-washed and blank spaces broken up with simple stencilled designs.

New Choir vestry. at present the choir ?is behind a curtain in the organ chamber where there is not room to move.

Nothing on the scale of the above has been attempted for probably 30 or 40 years, stamped June 1912

1913

Plan and elevation of new choir vestry, J. Douglass Mathew & Son, FFRIBA, Architects, Dowgate Hill [NE corner]

Renovation of exterior of church completed, the interior works well in hand; the choir vestry has begun, 17 June 1913

Works completed: general repairs and new choir vestry by Dove Bros (£300), and the interior decoration and repairs by Campbell Smith & Co, 25 Newman Street (£200)

You will be pleased to know that while the repair work was being carried out we had abundant evidence that it was both urgent and necessary, 25 Sept 1913

1914

£20 8 9 repairs to electric light fittings and lighting the new choir vestry, Jan 1914

Extension of renovation scheme of 1912. New stone to replace large section of clerestory windows, the decoration of chancel carried out in paint in place of distemper – a larger choir vestry than originally proposed: the work completed. Actual cost £1,120, 17 April 1914

When it became possible to examine fabric in detail it was discovered that parts of the fabric were in a much worse state than anticipated: stone in clerestory windows badly split and some large pieces of stone so loose that they threatened to fall into the nave; easier and better to insert new stone sills &c; originally intended to decorate chancel in distemper: short sighted so switched for oil paint. Upon opening up the ground no plan for the footings of the vestry could be found. 15ft down the ground waterlogged; architect insisted upon carrying vestry on steel cantilevers let in to the walls of the church & resting upon solid concrete piers; the making of two doorways from the vestry into the church interfere with the heating system & the organ blowing & demanded certain alterations, 3 July 1914

Pew renting ends December 1914

1915

Petition granted for faculty to remove organ from the N side of the Choir and to erect a new three Manual Organ in the same place but with detached console on the S side of the Choir; to set back the present choir stalls a distance of 15in on either side of the Choir to widen the approach to the chancel; to remove 2 seats on the S side of the choir so that the console of the organ be put in position; to dismantle the present iron communion rails and replace with a brass hanging rail, 12 April 1915

New altar rails and adjustments to choir stalls completed;

Proposed work: recasting and rehanging of mechanical ringing bell; reorganization of electric lighting; repairs to boiler & heating system.

Report on bell from John Warner & Son, says bell dangerous and must be re-hung – mechanical ringing recommended owing to awkward position of bell

Report re lighting system says plant overloaded and wiring confused, 22 September 1915

Organ rebuilt and enlarged and modernised by introduction of electric blower and electro-pneumatic action at a cost of £1,000 and the church now possesses what is probably the largest organ in any Islington Church (HT Parish Magazine, March 1929)

The present bell (8 cwt) was placed in the NW turret in 1830 and must have been fixed before the turret was completed. it is impossible to dismantle the bell without either takin the roof off the turret or breaking up the bell. the latter is the only one we can consider; bell unsafe as held up by small pin; no proper bell tower and in new position a bell ringer would have to climb into the roof, hence mechanical option;

Altar rails presented by St Barnabas, Kensington

New boiler and rewiring also needed, 29 Sept 1915

1915c

Many months ago the Crypt was thrown open to provide shelter in case of Air Raids. Recently 1,700 people have taken shelter … in the safety of the Church … we are taking steps to provide cover for 2,000 more [photo showing external entrance being dug on SW side, from undated WWI pamphlet]

In the end we opened the Crypt and sand-bagged it and drove a trench into it so that the 2,000 people who sought its shelter could travel down in safety and with speed (HT magazine, 1929)

1916

Works carried out by Dove Bros (£133 3 11), John Warner & Sons (£22), Jacob White & Co, electrical engineers (£200), 3 July 1916

1917

31 October 1917, 1,900 people in the crypt (civilian night patrol report book)

1919

Proposed to transfer the War Shrine to the Lads of Barnsbury from Thornhill Gardens to permanent place in Holy Trinity

1920

Petition to place a memorial to those of the parish who died in Great War where the Lawrence Major window was; to remove the plain glass from the window on S wall and replace with stained glass memorial to the boys of the Barnsbury Club; to remove 2 stone tablets on the SE wall and 1 stone and 1 brass tablet on the S wall between the suggested war memorial windows; to remove 3 rows of pews at present in the SE corner and to use the space as a chapel, with Holy Table, prayer desk and credence table, all at est £368

Undated plan showing proposed heating system ‘c.1920’ in LMA catalogue

£200 granted from St Mary Woolnoth Fund towards the renewal of heating apparatus, 20 Jan 1920

My inspection revealed that the boiler was useless … the main pipes in the church running a trench along the middle aisle leak to such an extent [that they cost a fortune in fixing]; examination of crypt found considerable damage to walls and foundation owing to percolation of water and a dozen coffins waterlogged and some bottoms falling out - £520 for the heating not including making good the fabric, 9 Feb 1920

alterations to the heating apparatus now complete as far as was specified in first part of the contract with Benham and Sons. owing to the impossibility of procuring sections for the new Boiler, it is only partly assembled and must be completed later, 25 March 1920

Dedication of the War Memorial Window and Tablet of Remembrance by the Bishop of Stepney, 5 December 1920

1924

Proposed new sectional Ideal Heating boiler and 1 double column radiator, est cost £115, old boiler is past repair, 19 Nov 1924 – completed 11 March

1925

Dove Bros estimate: stone copings: go over coping generally to nave and aisles, carry out minor replacements and repairs and point up all loose and open joints, also carry out similar repairs to copings to boundary walls.

Railings. overhaul and repair the iron railings around church, put new rail heads and bars where missing and No. 11 halvings where broken away. take down and rehang west gates with new stops and leave in order, cut away for and form gate on S. side, with lock and keys complete.

prepare and paint 2 coats all external iron and wood where previous painted to doors, railings, notice boards, RW Pipes etc., and rewrite notice boards as at present. £225 labour and materials, 5 June 1925 (repairs to roof also itemised in 10 June application for funds; completed December 1925)

1927

Proposed renovation of interiors, Dove Bros est £500 “plus £203 for scraping the beautiful pillars of Sir Charles Barry which you recommended me not to have repainted”. total £703, 26 September 1927

1928

Interior redecorated at a cost of about £500 (Centenary Parish Magazine, 1929)

1933

Organ tuning and repairs, £99, HT accounts

1934

Repairing stained glass windows, £49 10 (and £14 repairs to roof and painting chancel wall), HT accounts

1935

Two plans for panelling and a plan of the side-chapel at present date of 28 February 1935, signed by C. T. Hopwood on 1 March 1935.

Repairs to fabric, £47, HT accounts

1936

Repairs to fabric, £55 10, HT accounts

Trap door or similar opening to crypt still visible to the right of main entrance in 1936 aerial photographs (HE Britain from Above)

1937

Stonework of the turrets and pinnacles has become unsafe and we have been advised that repairs are urgent. a contract has therefore been placed with the ?Lowestone Restoration Co for £195 for the necessary repairs and work has commenced, 7 July 1927

removing of cement treatment from surfaces of roof stonework, turrets and towers of the Church, also pinnacles and copings; to cut away old stone and reinstate all with reconstructed stone mastic, reinforced with non-corrosive metal dowels; to put all stonework in perfect condition, 19 July 1937

Works completed, £200, September 1937

1938

Repairs to fabric, £29, HT accounts

1939

Repairs to fabric, £110 10 (probably to correct leaky boiler) and petty repairs £25, HT accounts

March-April 1939: last time railings are clearly visible in photographs (LCC and Country Life)

1940

Purchase and installation of new heating apparatus under specific conditions (I think because part funded by earlier grant), 2 Feb 1940

1946

proposed to put railings round the church in place of the railings compulsorily removed in 19[illeg year but presumably late 1939 or 1940]. extensive & wilful damage has been and is being done to the outside fabric of church; drains filled in constantly requiring repeated cleanings; water pipes for rain waterclearance are smashed; windows – stained & glass – are broken; parents unable to control their children; police helpless; railings essential to save the church from further extensive damage, cost about £180, 25 Feb 1946

Railings now completed 14 December 1946 [but must be temporary]

1951

recommended repairs – clean out all gulleys and rainwater heads [ticked]

Urgent repairs:

repair rainwater rainwater pipes

repair pointing to brick and stonework

renew missing capping stones to buttress pinnacles

reduce level of soils against walls (“voluntary labour?”)

overhaul external doors

repair plaster to porches

renew defective wire guards

paint external wood and ironwork and plaster to porches

repair hole in boundary fence

clean out areas to boiler house and crypt (“voluntary labour?”)

Interior:

cut out sections of dado affected by dry rot; treat adjacent surfaces with fungicide and repair dado

overhaul internal doors

repair glazing

obtain heating engineer’s report on heating system

redecorate

approx. cost of war damage repairs under A & B: £1,250

approx. cost of maintenance under A & B: £750

The figure for war damage repairs is almost entirely attributable to glazing. only a small proportion of this work will require a license.

Less urgent repairs:

limewash boiler house

renew boundary fence

Detailed report [select entries:]

the flat roof over the minister’s vestry was repaired some time ago after an outbreak of dry rot, and the lead replaced with asphalte

The capping stones to a number of buttress pinnacles are missing and may have been dislodged by blast

One of the buttresses to the north porch is out of plumb, but does not appear to be unstable, and the stone surround to one of the south porch windows is fractured

there does not appear to be any damp course, and the general level of the soil against the walls should be lowered, particularly as there has been an outbreak of dry rot in the timber dado of the south aisle

boundaries. the Church is built on an island site. the original boundaries consisted of wrought iron railings surmounting a dwarf brick all with a stone coping. apart from one two fractured or missing coping stones, the dwarf wall is in fairly sound condition, but the railings were taken for scrap during the war, and have since been replaced by a wide fence with metal standards. neither the fence nor the standards are galvanised

the boiler house is very dark and would be considerably improved if limewashed. the crypt contains a number of old coffins but is otherwise not used.

Interior:

the ceilings throughout are plastered. that in the minister’s vestry has recently been repaired after dry rot in the roof timbers. elsewhere the plaster appears to be dry, but still bears the marks of previous water penetration. … the has been damp penetration through the wall of the south west turret, and much of the plaster has fallen.

The stained glass and leaded lights have been fairly extensively damaged by blast

Fittings:

the fittings and pews are undistinguished, but adequate for their purpose and well cared for except in the disused gallery. there is a nicely carved oak screen to the south aisle chapel. Periodic Survey, sept 1950-Nov 1951

1952

Repairs – S. J. Boulton, £114 16, HT accounts

1953

The complete re-wiring of the Electric Circuits of the church are nearing completion. Specifications have been sent to builders for the complete renovation and re-decoration of the Church, including a Heating Engineer’s advice on increasing and improving the Heating of the Church. Vicar’s report, March 1953

1953

Repairs – S. J. Boulton, £25 19; Wesson & Co, £59, HT Accounts

1954

Faculty for oak pulpit

1957

Repairs – walls etc, £43 9; chancel floodlights, £18 10, HT accounts

1959

East Wall Redecoration Fund. Church fabric:

East Wall. We have £107 18s to date. unless we get £150, work cannot be started – to be left for twelve months

SW Wall. Very damp. Architect attending church. The cost will be high

Church Porch. Suggest colour unsuitable for doors. Darker colour would be more practical in London grime.

Stairs. Very messy and dirty. Builders have left debris.

Gallery. Very dirty.

In the church we have 4 organs and one piano. 1 organ plays the others are useless. Suggest 1 should be removed. Trinity News, April 1959

1960

Name and address of contractor: Messrs Campbell, Smith & Co Ltd, 25 Newman Street, W1

Cost estimate £125 10 (£161 in hand)

[includes drawings for the reredos and panels – patterned red and orange]

The Archdeacon has now granted his certificate in respect of the proposed work in your Church. … I would point out that although the certificate has issued it is usual to deal with such an application by Faculty as with the formation of a Reredos it constitutes an alteration and is the question of taste (Lockyer to Archdeacon, 10 June)

In pursuance of section 6 of the faculty jurisdiction measure 1938 [archdeacon authorises:]

obliterate all the existing painted ornament on North South and East Walls of Chancel below string course approx 11 ft high from Floor, prepare and paint to an approved tint. line panel out section under East Window to form painted Reredos and hand paint diaper patter in enclosed panels all as indicated on the drawing deposited in the Registry of the Episcopal Court. line out and prepare panels for the writing of the Ten Commandment on each side of the Lord’s table. designed to be part of the newly destined decorative treatment in the centre of East Wall below window.

Archdeacon’s Certificate, 10 June 1960

East Wall. Bottom Half Re-decorated, ten commandments written by Mr Williams. Other work by Messrs Cambells (Holy Trinity Logbook)

Proposed grant of £100 out of CPF towards cost of repairs to church roof, 21 Sept 1960

1961

Faculty for sound re-enforcement equipment

1963

Right hand tower struck by lightning;

Vestry flooded out

West End.

Wall in Gallery damaged by fire, origin caused by flues not being swept regularly (from Holy Trinity Logbook)

1964

it has not been possible to make a detailed examination of floor joists, wall plates, roofing timbers, undersides of floorboards or other timbers in the premises

The church is large but well kept with cultivated gardens. Generally the fabric is in good condition and recommended repairs are not extensive. stonework has however continued to deteriorate.

immediate repairs: leaking radiator valves

Urgent:

reduce soil level against church walls

boundary repairs

Detailed report [highly edited:]

The West Entrance is the only one in use.

The pinnacles to the North and South porches are damaged by their appearance [&] could be improved by reducing them to a uniform height

the open areas, affording ventilation to the crypt, continue to deteriorate. they should be kept clear of rubbish

the dwarf brick and boundary wall has deteriorated

the gardens are well kept and add considerably to the attraction of the site. accumulation of earth against external walls should be discouraged and the present mounds should be removed. the trees on the south side have been badly lopped

Internal:

plastered ceilings are in fair condition.

the stained areas remain but there is no evidence of present trouble from roof leaks.

Gallery:

there has recently been trouble in the south wall of the gallery caused by a defect in the boiler flue. the walls were lath and plaster on battens, and a large areas of laths and battens were charred and had fallen. … the remaining plaster on this side of the wall of the gallery was taken down, and the whole re-plastered on metal lath and battens.

The gallery is no longer used. (Holy Trinity, periodic survey, May 1964)

the organ has been placed at the east end on the north, the centre of the case appears original. … the font is modern, probably of 1898, Barnes, 26 October 1964

1971

originally the organ (by Timothy Russell, rebuilt as a three-manual by Speechley) stood in the west gallery and the design of its case front, with Tudor Gothic octagonal corner turrets like the church itself, suggests that Barry may have been responsible for it. The organ now stands at the east end of the north aisle … Some quite early electric lightfittings and two pleasing memorials (one Tudor Gothic the other Classical) on either side of the sanctuary aisle make up the complement of more notable furnishing and fittings. The sanctuary wallpaper has gold crowns in a pattern of Bodley-esque diapering…

the Council considers that (with the exception of the very fine 18th century steeple of the latter) Holy Trinity is of much greater architectural value that St Mary, Islington, and would be very reluctant indeed to concur in a proposal that Holy Trinity should be declared redundant, CARE report, April 1971

1978

Union of Benefices … The parish church of the parish of Holy Trinity Islington shall be declared redundant in this scheme, 20 December 1978

1980

the former parish church of the former parish of Holy Trinity, Islington … the redundant building and the land annexed or belonging thereto shall be appropriated to use for worship, services and other religious activities in accordance with the rites and customs of the Celestial Church of Christ and for purposes ancillary thereto. … the contents of the redundant building, excluding the plate used for the purpose of Holy Communion, tombstones, monuments and memorials, shall be disposed of as the Bishop shall direct, 18 September 1980

1985

New railings added (reported and photographed in local press)

2001

HLF Heritage Grants, PCC of Celestial Church of Christ, £319,000, 29/05/2001

2011

Although urgent repairs to the roof and high level stone work have been carried out with English Heritage/Heritage Lottery Fund funding, the west turrets are in very poor condition and the finials remain clad in netting, also the ceiling has been badly affected by decayed roof trusses, HAR, August 2011