Skegness Magazine

Source: Skegness Standard 1942

“PULL – IT DOWN!”
Advice To Former Skegness Rector
THE FACT that a well-known architect advised a former incumbent of Skegness to have St. Matthew’s Church pulled down and replaced by a more “worthy” sanctuary is revealed in an article by Canon A. H. Morris, a former popular Rector of the parish, in the current issue of the “Skegness Church Review.

Canon Morris, now Rector of Denton, was Rector of Skegness from 1929 to 1937 and is contributing a series of reminiscences headed “Memories.”

He writes: “St. Matthew’s Church, in years gone by, was very drab, not a touch of colour anywhere, except in the glass of the windows, and in the Altar Frontals.

I asked an eminent architect to call on his way to Lincoln and see me, and advise me as to how it could be brightened up. He had been most helpful to me, both at Crowland Abbey and at Gainsborough Parish) Church

“He came, and was anything but helpful. ‘Pull it down! said he ‘it is a shocking place from an architectural point of view. Build a church worthy of the worship of God, and of this increasingly important seaside resort. I won’t touch it.”‘

The Canon goes on to tell how he accepted the architect’s advice to consult Mr. Wilfred Bond, who worked out a scheme for the decoration of St. Matthew’s, and how two choir men undertook the task.

“I confess,” he says, “that I was most anxious about the result.”

At last it was done, and there was some colour in the church—the beautifully carved angels in the chancel roof were seen for the first time. The altar-piece with its intricate design and attendant angels glowed with blue, green, red and gold, and the nave
was colour-washed, except, of course, where stone work showed.

The effect was startling, for Mr. Bond had to allow for the sea air, which, he said, would very soon soften down the over-brilliant colours.

“One lady said she could no longer worship in St. Matthew’s Church, for it was too much like Butlin’s Amusement Park. Otherwise I heard no complaints that I had spoilt the Church.”

Picture: St Matthew’s Church Skegness