St Matthew, Bestwood
St Matthew, Bestwood
St Matthew on the Hill was a mid-century Church of England church on Padstow Road, Bestwood estate, Nottingham, designed by Vernon Royle, opened on 10 October 1959, and demolished on 3 May 2019 after fire damage.
- Location
- Bestwood, Nottinghamshire
- Country
- England
- County
- Nottinghamshire
- City / town
- Bestwood
- Address
- Padstow Road, Bestwood, Nottinghamshire, NG5 5GH
- Postcode
- NG5 5GH
- Built
- 1958–59; demolished 3 May 2019
- Consecrated
- October 1959
- Architect
- Vernon Royle
- Denomination
- Church of England
- Dedication
- Matthew
- Diocese
- Southwell and Nottingham
- Parish
- Bestwood St Matthew (now united with Bestwood St Philip)
- Style
- Mid-century modern
- Materials
- Brick and precast concrete frames; felt roof later intended for copper
- Opening hours
- Sorry, there are no regular opening times for this church.
- Access
- Level access to the main areas. Accessible toilets nearby
Overview
The Southwell and Nottingham Church History Project records a 1939 mission church of St Francis on the estate, followed by a scheme for a new church. The foundation stone, reused from St Matthew’s, Talbot Street (demolished 1956), was laid in 1958. Royle, influenced by Basil Spence’s Coventry diocese churches, built what he called a well-insulated barn about 90 feet by 70 feet and 30 feet high, with nave and chancel under one roof on precast concrete frames, brick and precast panels, a south porch, south chapel and a cheap substitute for his unbuilt tower. Furnishings transferred from Talbot Street included Kempe glass, pews, font, lectern and altar.
An arson attack in 2009 left the building badly damaged. Worship moved to St Philip’s, Top Valley. The church was demolished in 2019; the diocese later proposed supported housing on the vacant site. The parish is now united with Bestwood St Philip.