Basic Site Details Name: | St Andrew's Episcopal Church | Town, district or village: | Fort William | City or county: | Inverness-shire | Country: | Scotland | Parish: | | Status: | | Grid ref: | | Notes: | The foundation-stone of a new Episcopal chapel was laid at Fort William, N.B., on Friday. The architect is Mr. Ross, of Inverness, and the anticipated cost of the building is £.5,000. [Building News 19 September 1879 p356]
FORT WILLIAM - St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Fort William, was consecrated last week. The building is from the design of Mr. Ross, architect, Inverness, and is in the Early Decorated style, and consists of a nave, a chancel, and tower and spire, with a vestry at the west angle and a porch at the north-west angle. The tower, when complete, will be 100 feet high. Its base forms the organ-chamber. The material of which the church is built is red granite, with freestone dressings. The choir-benches are of oak, the carving having been executed by Mr. Harry Hems, of Exeter. The altar is ten feet wide, the front divided into three compartments by arches with columns. In the centre compartment is the St. Andrew Cross, enriched in alabaster, and in the south is a pelican feeding her young. The litany-desk and prayer-desk are carved in oak by Mr. Hems. The internal walls are relieved by bands of white freestone. The windows are filed with stained glass, by Messrs Clayton and Bell, of London. The cost has been about £10,000. [Building News 17 September 1880 p341]
Western Doors - G B Davy "commissioned Mr Hems to carve sculptured doors for the western entrance of St. Andrew's church. These doors, designed by Mr. A. Ross, are of the same class as Ghiberti's celebrated gates at Florence, and in a series of panels will illustrate our Lord as the Door and the Good Shepherd." [Building News 23 December 1881 p866]
Harry Hems of Exeter, perhaps the most outstanding ecclesiastical wood carver of the period, was also reponsible for other carvings at the church - see listing notice
Font reredos and pulpit by D & A Davidson. | Alternative NamesThe following alternative names are associated with this building/design: | | Name | Current name? | Notes | | St Andrews West | Yes | |
Building Type ClassificationThe building is classified under the following categories: | | Classification | Original classification? | Notes | | Church | | |
Street AddressesThe following street addresses are associated with this building: | | Address | Main entrance? | Notes | | High Street | Yes | |
EventsThe following date-based events are associated with this building: | | From | To | Event type | Notes | | 1879 | 1884 | | Church - also lych gate | | 8 May 1879 | | Journal reference | |
PeopleDesign and ConstructionThe following individuals or organisations have carried out design/construction work. Where architects or practices worked together, matching letters appear beside their names in the Partnership Group column. | | Name | Role | Partnership Group | From | To | Notes | | Alexander Ross | | | 1879 | 1884 | Church - also lych gate |
Related Buildings, Structures and DesignsChild StructuresThis structure or site has the following component or child structures (click on an item to view details): | | Building Name | Notes | | St Andrew's Episcopal Church, Lych Gate | A handsome lych-gate has just been erected at the entrance to the graveyard of the new Episcopal church of St. Andrew's, Fort-William. Lychgates are picturesque features rarely met with in Scotland, although by no means novel in some parts of England, especially in Kent. Throughout the country only two exist, this one at Fort- William making the third. It has been designed by Mr. Alexander Ross, of Inverness, and is of a massive character. It is made entirely of English oak, grown in Devonshire, aud has been carried out by Mr. Harry Hems, of Exeter. The lychgate has been put in situ by Mr. George Harrison, one of Mr. Hems' staff, and with the exception of a few tiles, is now complete. The clerk of works, who has superintended the erection, is Mr. Alexander Fridge. The work is the gift of Mr G B Davy of Spean-lodge, Kingussie*, who has commissioned Mr. Hems to carve sculptured doors for the western entrance of St. Andrew's church. These doors, designed by Mr. A. Ross, are of the same class as Ghiberti's celebrated gates at Florence, and in a series of panels will illustrate our Lord as the Door and the Good Shepherd. [Building News 23 December 1881 p866]
* Historic Scotland gives benefactor as George Baynton Davey of Spean Bridge. |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this building: | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Gifford, John | 1992 | Highland and Islands (The Buildings of Scotland) | | Penguin Books | p240-1 | | Scottish Episcopal Church Yearbook | 1916 | | 1915-1916 | | p136 |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this building: | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Building News | 19 September 1879 | | | p356 - foundation stone
| | Building News | 17 September 1880 | | | p341 -opening | | Inverness Courier | 8 May 1879 | | | |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this building: | | Source | Archive name | Source catalogue no. | Notes | | Historic Environment Scotland | Listed Buildings Register | 31788 | | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | Alexander Ross: F v12 p15, microfiche 114/B7 |
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