St Paul, Cheltenham
St Paul, Cheltenham
St Paul’s is a Grade II* Church of England parish church on St Paul’s Road, Cheltenham, a Greek Revival “free church” of 1829–31 by John Forbes, in the Diocese of Gloucester.
- Location
- Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
- Country
- England
- County
- Gloucestershire
- City / town
- Cheltenham
- Address
- St Pauls Road, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL50 4EZ
- Postcode
- GL50 4EZ
- Built
- 1829–31; refurbished 1863; vestry and north chapel 1917; reordered 2009
- Architect
- John Forbes; L. W. Barnard (1917 vestry and north chapel)
- Denomination
- Church of England
- Dedication
- Paul
- Diocese
- Gloucester
- Parish
- St Paul Cheltenham
- Grade
- II*
- Style
- Greek Revival (after the Temple of Ilissus)
- Materials
- Brick with ashlar facing to the west façade; Ionic portico
- Opening hours
- Church is open for events most days and visitors are welcome to browse. If you're making a special journey you may want to call the church office first to ensure the church is open.
- Access
- Accessible toilets in church. Non-accessible toilets in church. Ramp or level access available on request
Overview
Plans for a church with free sittings for the artisan quarter were begun in 1825 by the Revd Charles Jervis and taken forward by the Revd Francis Close. Joseph Pitt gave the site. Forbes, architect of the Grade I Pittville Pump Room, based the design on the Athenian Temple of Ilissus. Ashlar facing was limited to the west front to save cost: a tetrastyle Ionic portico, pilasters, and a tall parapet. Edward Cope laid foundations in 1829; after a vestry attempt to relocate the church, building resumed in 1830 and was completed in 1831, with 1,230 free sittings. It is Cheltenham’s only surviving Greek Revival church (J. B. Papworth’s St John’s was demolished in 1967). L. W. Barnard added a vestry extension and north chapel in 1917. Pews and the north chapel were removed in a 2009 reordering.
Historic England lists the church Grade II* (list entry 1387184). The Church Heritage Record notes that a consecration date is not confirmed.