Church of St. Augustine
Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin (1812-1852)
1842
Ramsgate
Eastlake, facing p. 163
[See commentary below]
Image scan and text George P. Landow
Commentary by Charles L. Eastlake (1872)
It has frequently been affirmed, and with some show of reason, that Pugin enriched his churches at a sacrifice of their strength — that he starved his roof-tree to gild his altar. It is only fair, however, to point out that in many instances where this apparent inconsistency has been observed, although the buildings were commenced with but slender funds, subscriptions or bequests were ,added just as the works approached completion, and that the architect was thus called upon to spend in mere decoration money which, if it had been available earlier, he would gladly have devoted to a worthier purpose.
It is certain that in the one work which he carried out completely to his own satisfaction, because he was in this caseÑto use his own words — "paymaster, architect, and builder," there is no stint of solidity in construction. For that reason the church of St. Augustine, which he founded at Ramsgate, may be regarded as one of his most successful achieve- ments. Its plan, which is singularly ingenious and unconventional in arrangement, consists of a chancel about thirty-five feet long, and divided into two bays, with a Lady Chapel on its south side, a central tower and south transept only, a nave and south aisle. The outer bay of the south transept is divided from the rest of the church by a richly-carved oak screen, and forms the "Pugin Chantry Chapel." The annexed view [above] is taken from under the tower looking south. It shows the screen of the Pugin Chantry, the arch in front of the Lady Chapel, andd a portion of the rood screen.The whole church is lined internally with ashlar stone of a warm grey colour, the woodwork of the screen, stalls, &c., being of dark oak. The general tone of the interior, lighted as it is by stained glass windows (executed by Hardman, and very fair for their time), is most agreeable and wonderfully suggestive of old work. The roofs of the chancel. Lady Chapel, and transept are panelled; those of the nave and aisles are open timbered, but all are executed in oak. The altars and font are of Caen stone, richly sculptured. On them, as well as on the rood screen and choir stalls, Pugin has bestowed that careful study of detail for which, in his time, he stood unrivalled. The exterior of the church is simple but picturesque in outline. As a composition it can scarcely be considered complete in its present state, seeing that Pugin intended to carry up the tower a storey higher than it is at present, and to roof it with a slate spire. The walls are of cut flint, with string-courses and dressings of dark yellow stone. No student or lover of old English Architecture can examine this interesting little church without perceiving the thoughtful, earnest care with which it has been designed and executed, down to the minutest detail. It is evident that Pugin strove to invest the building with local traditions of style. This is shown in its general arrangement, the single transept and other peculiarities of plan being characteristic of Kent. [162-63]
References
Eastlake, Charles L. A History of the Gothic Revival. London: Longmans, Green; N.Y. Scribner, Welford, 1872. [Copy in Brown University's Rockefeller Library]
Last modified 7 February 2008