The Church of Emmanuel, Bentley and the church hall.


The church, as seen from Queen Elizabeth Avenue.

The Church of Emmanuel, Cairn Drive, Bentley was Grade II listed on 10th March, 2016. It was designed by Richard Twentyman of Lavender, Twentyman and Percy, and built in 1954 to 1956 by Henry Willcock and Company Limited. It consists of the church itself, the church hall, a vestry, a side chapel and vicarage on the hill top where Bentley Hall once stood. It was built as a memorial to Alfred Ernest Owen of Rubery Owen.

The church, the church hall, the vestry, the western terrace and flight of steps are all included in the listing for the following reasons:

1. The architectural quality. The church is excellent an example of the later work of the noted 20th century church architect Richard Twentyman.

2. The design is well fitted to the top of the hill and blends-in with the surrounding landscape. It also makes its presence felt throughout much of Bentley.

3. The careful detailing of fittings which were designed by the architect.

4. There have been few alterations and losses. The church retains much its original fabric.


The foundation stone.

The church is built of buff brick, laid in Sussex bond, with stone and concrete dressings and copper sheeting on the roof. It has a conventional east-west plan with a trapezoid-shaped side chapel projecting to the upper left and the church hall projecting to the lower left. The vestry wing connects the church to the vicarage. The nave has a north aisle with four principal bays divided by columns with a quatrefoil section. The chancel has an organ loft on its north side.

The rectangular entrance lobby has external doors to its east and west sides and internal doors which lead to the church and hall. Both external doors have an angled, internal lobby with glazed walls. The stone floor has patterned black marble and limestone flags. The nave has wood block flooring with travertine marble paving to the chancel.

The interior fittings designed by Richard Twentyman include the pews, the altar rails, the organ console, the pulpit and the reading desk. The vestry rooms still have their original cupboards and follow the original plan.


A view of the church from Churchill Road to the north.


The entrance facing the church car park off Cairn Drive.


The church and car park.


A night-time view from Queen Elizabeth Avenue showing the flight of concrete steps.


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