Church of The Guardian Angels, Mile End

Introduction

F.A. Walters designed this church, which was built in 1901-3. The church is designed in the Perpendicular style.

Architecture and furnishings

The building is constructed of red brick with Ancaster stone dressings. The church is aligned north-south with the liturgical east end to the north. The nave has three bays. The chancel has two bays.

The chancel features moulded piers, spandrels with stone reliefs of angels holding shields decorated with instruments of the passion, and a coffered ceiling. A clerestorey with pairs of plain leaded lights runs over the nave arcade. Over the main entrance are triple arched niches with cusped heads, the central one with a stone canopy flanked by narrow lancet windows, and a crenellated hood mould of stone above. A single lancet opening with a hood-mould is placed above the main entrance.

To the left of the main entrance is a blocked arched doorway with a crenellated parapet. The upper part of the tower is octagonal with a crenellated parapet, slatted two-light belfry openings to the main sides, and blind brick arches to the angles. A short fleche with a pinnacle rises over the tower. The fleche is sheathed in copper.

The slate roof is not visible. A gallery is at the liturgical west end. The Lady Chapel is at the liturgical north-east. An organ is located over the Lady Chapel.

The main entrance has a moulded brick arch and an Arts and Crafts-influenced bronze grille embellished with an IHS monogram. The tabernacle has an enamelled gilt door. The rood screen is inscribed REGNAVIT A LIGNA DEUS ('God ruled from the wood'). The altar is a panelled openwork piece by Earp and Hobbs.

The east window by N.H.J. Westlake shows Christ in majesty flanked by the Virgin Mary and St Joseph, with SS Margaret of Scotland and Clare in the outer lights. Wrought iron gates to the Lady Chapel and to the crypt entrance are by Bainbridge Reynolds. The parish website is at parish.rcdow.org.uk/mileend/.