Christ Church, Latchingdon (EHER 49642)

A church in the Gothic revival style and designed by JP St Aubyn. Notably, it has stained glass windows by William Morris.

January 2020. Grade II listed. The middle years of the 19th century period saw a revival of the ecclesiastical arts of metalwork and stained glass, and it was the combination of a Gothic architectural revival and liturgical renewal that provided the catalyst for the flowering of the ecclesiastical arts and craftsmanship: stained glass, wall paintings, open benches, textiles. These were often – unlike in the Middle Ages – produced on an industrial scale. The significance of many Victorian churches relies on their furnishings and fittings; these are vulnerable to loss and damage, and surviving decorative schemes, furniture and fittings should be accorded special note. In the case of Christ Church in Latchingdon, the building is a well-executed essay in Gothic revival with a distinctive appearance which both recognises the national and the local context. The interior in particular is of high quality and the artistic quality of the windows, the Morris ones in particular, are notable. Christ Church is designed by one of the more notable 19th century ecclesiastical architects. JP St Aubyn was a prolific church restorer, although Christ Church is an example of one of his new church commissions. While Aubyn has been criticised for his lack of creative flair, and for undertaking overly invasive restorations, he was nonetheless involved in some of the major projects of the 19th century. <1>