A fine early-twentieth century church in basilican style, with applied and integral polychromy, both inside and out. The church makes a powerful contribution to the conservation area, its solid red brick massing and apsidal east end (recalling Albi Cathedral) taking full advantage of the sloping triangular site. 

In 1872 a site was purchased in Queen’s Road, and St Joseph’s school, plus a school-chapel, opened in November of that year. A tin church was built adjacent to the presbytery in 1883, which was subsequently dismantled and moved to Belle Vue Road, North Town. The foundation stone for the present church was laid in March 1902 and the church was opened in January 1913 by Bishop Cotter.

The architect George Drysdale (1881-1949) studied at the Ecole des Beaux Arts, Paris and then worked in the offices of Ernest George and Leonard Stokes, before starting his own practice in 1911, shortly after which he made the designs for St Joseph’s. From 1916-19 Drysdale was in Canada, rebuilding the fire-damaged Houses of Parliament in Ottawa. On his return to England he set up partnership with Leonard Stokes until Stokes’ death in 1925. Drysdale was based in Birmingham, and had a predominantly Catholic church building practice, including three in Birmingham and others at Weymouth, South Norwood, Ruislip and Bodmin. He specialised in variations on a basilican and Romanesque theme.

St Joseph’s was reordered in the 1970s, when the original high altar was removed and replaced with a forward altar. The reordered church was consecrated on 22 September 1982 by the Rt Rev. Anthony Emery, Bishop of Portsmouth. Changes since then have included the addition of large wall paintings in the north and south aisles by local artist Robert Senior.

Description

See list description, below. The church is described by Pevsner as being ‘[O]ne of the most impressive churches of its date, brilliantly planned on a triangular site, steeply sloping down to the central belfry and the apse on the E apex.’ The church is brick built with a pantile roof. The brickwork has a polychrome finish, with dark red and narrow banding on the body of the church and grey brick at clerestory level. The design is basilican, with side chapels with half drum roofs at the north and south sides at the west end, a central belfry and an apse at the eastern apex. The principal entrance is from Queen’s Road on the south front. Internally, the nave has four bays with windowless aisles. The polychrome decoration is of brick and glazed tiles, with dark marble columns in the apse. At the west end is a gallery with a pipe organ built by Forster & Andrews in 1881 for a Congregational chapel in Sidcup, rebuilt here in 1981 by Hill & Son & Norman & Beard Ltd (National Pipe Organ Register). The church and presbytery form a harmonious group.

Entry amended by AHP 21.10.2025

List description

II

Roman Catholic 1912/13, by George Drysdale. Wedge-shaped plan, with a rounded (east) end at the junction of Queen’s Road with Edward Street. High flank walls pierced by a doorway on each street (at different levels) with windows above which provide clerestory lighting; a bell-turret is prominent by virtue of the ground falling to the east. Inside, the church is a basilica with an impressive character, richly textured and complete with original furnishings. Externally, everything is in brickwork, with upper levels of dark brindle, and the flank walling in brindle-banded red.

Listing NGR: SU8608450624

Heritage Details