This masterpiece by Augustus Pugin features some of his classic wall designs.

In 1840 the celebrated architect Augustus Pugin (who designed much of the Houses of Parliament) was commissioned by John Talbot, the 16th Earl of Shrewsbury, to design and build a Roman Catholic church “that would have no rival”. The earl placed unlimited means at Pugin’s disposal. Known as Pugin’s Gem, the church remains one of the finest examples of Gothic Revival church architecture in the world today.

The church was finally completed in 1846, although the style of architecture reflects early Gothic buildings such as Salisbury Cathedral, which dates from 1220. Pugin was born in 1812, the son of a French family, and died tragically young at the age of 40. Yet by that time he had designed a substantial number of churches and other buildings. However, the church at Cheadle must surely be his finest memorial.

Simon Jenkins considers this to be among England's hundred best churches. For more photos of St Giles, please see my photostream or my set entitled "Pugin's Gem....".

All photos are hand-held HDR shots.

Tags:   Staffordshire Cheadle St Giles RC Church, Cheadle churches Augustus Pugin Victorian church architecture architecture 19th century buildings England's Thousand Best Churches England's Hundred Best Churches

© All Rights Reserved

The Roman Catholic Church of St Giles in Cheadle, Staffordshire, is reckoned to be Augustus Pugin's masterpiece. It is simply the most ornate church that I have ever seen in the United Kingdom.

In 1840 the celebrated architect Augustus Pugin (who designed much of the Houses of Parliament) was commissioned by John Talbot, the 16th Earl of Shrewsbury, to design and build a Roman Catholic church “that would have no rival”. The earl placed unlimited means at Pugin’s disposal. Known as Pugin’s Gem, the church remains one of the finest examples of Gothic Revival church architecture in the world today.

The church was finally completed in 1846, although the style of architecture reflects early Gothic buildings such as Salisbury Cathedral, which dates from 1220. Pugin was born in 1812, the son of a French family, and died tragically young at the age of 40. Yet by that time he had designed a substantial number of churches and other buildings. However, the church at Cheadle must surely be his finest memorial.

Simon Jenkins considers this to be among England's hundred best churches. For more photos of St Giles, please see my photostream or my set entitled "Pugin's Gem....".

All photos are hand-held HDR shots.

Tags:   Staffordshire Cheadle churches Roman Catholic churches St Giles RC Church, Cheadle Augustus Pugin Pugin's Gem Gothic Revival architecture 19th century architecture church buildings England's Thousand Best Churches England's Hundred Best Churches

© All Rights Reserved

This is the font in Augustus Pugin's masterpiece, St Giles RC Church in Cheadle, Staffordshire.

In 1840 the celebrated architect Augustus Pugin (who designed much of the Houses of Parliament) was commissioned by John Talbot, the 16th Earl of Shrewsbury, to design and build a Roman Catholic church “that would have no rival”. The earl placed unlimited means at Pugin’s disposal. Known as Pugin’s Gem, the church remains one of the finest examples of Gothic Revival church architecture in the world today.

The church was finally completed in 1846, although the style of architecture reflects early Gothic buildings such as Salisbury Cathedral, which dates from 1220. Pugin was born in 1812, the son of a French family, and died tragically young at the age of 40. Yet by that time he had designed a substantial number of churches and other buildings. However, the church at Cheadle must surely be his finest memorial.

Simon Jenkins considers this to be among England's hundred best churches. For more photos of St Giles, please see my photostream or my set entitled "Pugin's Gem....".

All photos are hand-held HDR shots

Tags:   Staffordshire Cheadle St Giles RC Church, Cheadle Augustus Pugin Victorian church architecture churches 19th century buildings church fonts Gothic Revival architecture Pugin Pugin's Gem England's Thousand Best Churches England's Hundred Best Churches

© All Rights Reserved

The Roman Catholic Church of St Giles in Cheadle, Staffordshire, is reckoned to be Augustus Pugin's masterpiece. It is simply the most ornate church that I have ever seen in the United Kingdom.

In 1840 the celebrated architect Augustus Pugin (who designed much of the Houses of Parliament) was commissioned by John Talbot, the 16th Earl of Shrewsbury, to design and build a Roman Catholic church “that would have no rival”. The earl placed unlimited means at Pugin’s disposal. Known as Pugin’s Gem, the church remains one of the finest examples of Gothic Revival church architecture in the world today.

The church was finally completed in 1846, although the style of architecture reflects early Gothic buildings such as Salisbury Cathedral, which dates from 1220. Pugin was born in 1812, the son of a French family, and died tragically young at the age of 40. Yet by that time he had designed a substantial number of churches and other buildings. However, the church at Cheadle must surely be his finest memorial.

Simon Jenkins considers this to be among England's hundred best churches. For more photos of St Giles, please see my photostream or my set entitled "Pugin's Gem....".

All photos are hand-held HDR shots.

Tags:   Staffordshire Cheadle churches Roman Catholic churches St Giles RC Church, Cheadle Augustus Pugin Pugin's Gem Gothic Revival architecture 19th century architecture church buildings England's Thousand Best Churches England's Hundred Best churches

© All Rights Reserved

In 1840 the celebrated architect Augustus Pugin (who designed much of the Houses of Parliament) was commissioned by John Talbot, the 16th Earl of Shrewsbury, to design and build a Roman Catholic church “that would have no rival”. The earl placed unlimited means at Pugin’s disposal. Known as Pugin’s Gem, the church remains one of the finest examples of Gothic Revival church architecture in the world today.

The church was finally completed in 1846, although the style of architecture reflects early Gothic buildings such as Salisbury Cathedral, which dates from 1220. Pugin was born in 1812, the son of a French family, and died tragically young at the age of 40. Yet by that time he had designed a substantial number of churches and other buildings. However, the church at Cheadle must surely be his finest memorial.

The golden lions of the west door, surely the most ornate church door in the UK, reflect the heraldry of the Earl of Shrewsbury, Pugin's patron.

Simon Jenkins considers this to be among England's hundred best churches. For more photos of St Giles, please see my photostream or my set entitled "Pugin's Gem....".

All photos are hand-held HDR shots.

Tags:   Staffordshire Cheadle churches Roman Catholic churches St Giles RC Church, Cheadle Augustus Pugin Pugin's Gem Gothic Revival architecture 19th century architecture church buildings England's Thousand Best Churches England's Hundred Best Churches

© All Rights Reserved