Church of the Annunciation, Bournemouth

Scott’s first church

The Church of the Annunciation in Bournemouth is the first major work by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, begun in 1905, just two years after he had won the competition to design Liverpool Cathedral. As at the beginning of the project to build Liverpool Cathedral, Scott was assisted in Bournemouth by G.F. Bodley. The church was completed a year later in 1906, and stands as a testament to Scott’s inventive use of Gothic forms at the dawn of his career.

Situated in the rapidly developing Richmond Park and Charminster area, the church was commissioned by Mrs. Lionel Coxon as a memorial to her father, General Augustus Meyrick. The land for the church was a gift from a Miss Ellis, and the construction, executed by G. McWilliam & Sons of Bournemouth, cost £4,250.

The building

Scott's design for the church reflects his early exploration of a modern Gothic style, the geometry and inventive massing of the exterior are executed in red brick, the decorative stone dressings harking back to the polychromy of the middle period of the Revival. The building’s structure is distinctive, with a tall chancel and even taller transepts- the west wall of the crossing is punctuated by soaring geometrical windows and a striking buttressed bellcote, adding to the church’s dramatic verticality.

Inside, the nave is single-storey, with three-bay arcades framing arched recesses instead of traditional aisles, and narrow passages that pierce the piers, giving the space a unique rhythm. The chancel, in contrast, is a dramatic and rather remarkable three-storey affair, with blank plaster walls at the lower level, a triforium gallery above, and a clerestory with tiny, flat-topped windows that introduce light into the sanctuary. The gallery is elegantly detailed, featuring wrought-iron balconies that connect the arches above the altar, creating a sense of depth and intricacy.

In 1965, the church was expanded with an additional bay in the nave, a loft for the organ and choir, and a Lady Chapel and sacristy to the north. A baptistery was added to the west, alongside the modern gallery. The sanctuary too was reordered in 1969, reflecting ongoing liturgical developments.

The Church of the Annunciation is now a Grade II* listed building. It stands as a significant early work in Sir Giles Gilbert Scott’s career, showcasing the foundational elements of the style that he would continue to develop in his later, better known projects.