Wednesday, June 08, 2016

Oakham Baptist Church Built in 1870 stripped of Victorian History

Oakham Baptist Church Built in 1870 stripped of Victorian History

In an attempt to make the church more usable for the community the
Baptist church is transforming the interior into a contemporary minimalist space.

The memorials on the walls are being boxed in unfortunately before
anyone was able to photograph them.

The dark wooden balcony will be painted white, I guess in a few
years time we will see the need for a costly restoration to remove paint,
just like the wooden features inside the castle great hall.

Fortunately the church is not going to paint the ceiling.

Original internal doors have not escaped the white paint brush
at least they can be dipped and stripped in a few years time.

As normal here in Rutland the county council does not bother listing
many of our historic buildings.

Oakham Baptist Church is a growing community with over 100 people
attending Sunday services. in the 1970's they were almost non existent
and the was a risk at that time they were going to lose their building
due to its poor condition.

I imagine when this church was fully fitted out with pews and pipe
organ it was a fine little church.





Memorials boarded, it is hoped that the artists among the 
congregation will produce contemporary paintings or scripture
paintings to be displayed instead of the memorials. 









I think it is a shame this woodwork is to be painted white.
I understand Rutland County Council have received concerns
from other residents and I hope the new conservation officer
can persuade the church to not paint it or box it in. 








 















Many Baptist churches have ornate round windows above the door
The Central Baptist Church in Bloomsbury is very ornate.
I quite like this simple one.