An early design by F. A. Walters, in a fine setting.

The monastery and its church were completed in June 1892 (not 1895, as stated in the list description, below). The architect was Frederick Arthur Walters (1848-1931). Walters was the son of Frederick Page Walters, architect and surveyor of Walbrook, London. Though articled to his father, when qualified, Walters joined the firm of Goldie & Child and, in 1878, set up his own practice. He was very prolific, building more than fifty Catholic churches during the course of his life. Buckfast Abbey in Devon is probably the building for which he is best known. The monastery church at Chilworth is an early work.

The monastery has a fine setting; it stands in an open meadow-like clearing fringed with woods. The church lies to the north of the complex and is not immediately seen as you approach the buildings. Its somewhat austere external appearance is offset by its rich interior. The materials are Ewhurst stone for the walls, Chilmark stone dressings, and Broseley tiles.

The main view is from the north. From here you can see the importance of the division between nave and chancel, marked by the narrow saddle-back tower over the crossing, and given further emphasis by the gabled stair turret.

The separation is just as clear when you enter the church. The great organ gallery inserted within the space of the crossing is the most striking feature of the interior. The painted and gilded rood, silhouetted against the pipes of the organ and framed by the arch of the crossing, is enormously impressive, an integral part of the architect’s design, and crucial to the historic character of the building. The opening into the sanctuary, when compared with that of other churches, seems exceptionally narrow (though its great height also helps to create this impression). It is said to have been designed in this way to give privacy to the friars reciting the Divine Office. The nave now has a forward altar.

Many of the features with which the church was embellished – the organ, baptistery, confessionals, reredos and side altars – were added in the two decades after the fabric of the building was completed in 1911 but since then the interior has changed little. The organ gallery with its painted rood, besides being of exceptionally high quality, is crucial to the design of the building as a whole.

List description (extracted from that for the monastery)

II

Monastery. 1895 by F A Walters in sober Late Gothic style. Snecked sandstone with ashlar dressings and plain tiled roofs, some flint chequerwork in gables.  Four ranges round central courtyard, three dormitory ranges and church tom north….North Range – Church of cruciform plan with gabled tower to east at crossing.  Pentice aisle to north and north chancel Chapel with battlemented parapet.  Tall gabled shallow transepts to tower. Perpendicular style fenestration with five 3-light clerestory windows under continuous moulding alternating with buttresses on north side. Three 2-light Y tracery arched windows in aisle chapels below alternating with buttresses. Two windows on north side, one window on east and west sides of chancel chapel over tall basement under string course. Gabled porch to west with ashlared door surround. Impost strings to either side and chamfered surround.  Panelled door approached by flight of steps.

Interior – Church – wood block floor. Three small chapels to north with moulded surrounds.  Gallery across west end. Tall chancel arch with canopied figures to either side in triptych form – St Francis on one side flanked by Angels Madonna and Child on other side, crocketed canopies above.  Rood screen and organ between in arch. Flat chancel roof with “sunburst” bosses to panels. Large canopied and crocketed reredos.  Alabaster and marble altar.

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Amended by AHP 12.02.2021

Heritage Details