St Matthew, Croydon
St Matthew, Croydon
St Matthew’s is a Church of England parish church on Chichester Road, Croydon, in the Diocese of Southwark: a modernist church and hall complex by David Bush, built for the Park Hill neighbourhood and opened in 1971.
- Location
- Croydon, Greater London
- Country
- England
- County
- Greater London
- City / town
- Croydon
- Address
- Chichester Road, Croydon, Greater London, CR0 5NQ
- Postcode
- CR0 5NQ
- Built
- 1965–72; opened 1971
- Architect
- David Bush
- Denomination
- Church of England
- Dedication
- Matthew
- Diocese
- Southwark
- Parish
- St Matthew, Croydon
- Style
- Modernist hexagonal church and hall complex
- Materials
- Brick walls with mono-pitched aluminium-clad roofs and vertical glazing
- Opening hours
- The church is opened from 9am to 12noon everyday and there often activities taking place throughout the day.
- Access
- Accessible toilets in church. Level access to the main areas. Ramp or level access available on request
Overview
The Church Heritage Record and parish accounts describe a hexagonal church of 1965–72 by David Bush, built by Wates as part of a land swap when the Park Hill area was redeveloped. The church is not listed. Solid brick walls are covered by mono-pitched aluminium-clad roofs falling in different directions, separated by vertical glazing that introduces top light. To the east, within the same design, are a chapel, church hall, kitchen, lavatories and vestries opening off a large irregular foyer. A significant feature is a wall of stained glass by John Hayward depicting stories from St Matthew’s Gospel; some glass was recovered from the Victorian St Matthew’s on George Street, which this building replaced. Medieval glass panels in a window in the church spire came from the original Croydon parish church, burnt at the end of the nineteenth century. The organ was built by Noel Mander in 1972. Bush later trained for the priesthood.
The church is open 9am to noon daily, with level access and accessible toilets.