A church for a growing suburb

St Joseph’s Church in Wealdstone, designed in 1929 by Adrian Gilbert Scott, is a significant example of early 20th-century ecclesiastical architecture. While Adrian may be less renowned than his brother, Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, he was an established church architect in his own right and a particular favourite of the Catholic hierarchy in England. His work at St Joseph’s exemplifies his architectural approach, blending the styles of the Arts and Crafts movement and the Gothic.

The history of St Joseph’s Church is closely tied to the growth of Wealdstone, a settlement that began to expand following the opening of Harrow & Wealdstone Railway Station in 1837. The station’s establishment by the London and Birmingham Railway Company marked the beginning of a development in the area, which initially grew slowly but accelerated by the late 19th century. By 1897, the settlement had extended along the High Street, and the site on which the church now stands was included within the settlement boundary for the first time. The arrival of the Bakerloo line in 1917 further spurred development, leading to a growing Catholic community that required a more permanent place of worship.

Catholic Mass had been celebrated in a public hall in Wealdstone since 1892, with a formal mission established in 1899. The Salvatorians, an international Roman Catholic religious community, purchased the present site in 1905, where they initially built a temporary church, later replaced by a tin church in 1906-07. The rapid growth of the congregation led to the construction of the current St Joseph’s Church, which opened in 1931.

The building

Scott’s exterior, in snecked Cotswold stone, is composed of a dramatically pitched nave, deep lean-to aisles, and a prominent east tower with intricate traceried windows and a delicately crenellated parapet. The spirited east elevation, facing the High Road, is defined by a massive pointed arch which frames the main door and is adorned with a carved crucifixion flanked by statues of saints.

Inside, the church is characterised by an air of elegant simplicity. The nave and chancel are rendered in white plaster, with contrasting stone piers and arches. The nave’s arcades feature tall, pointed arches, while the aisle roofs are close-ribbed and boarded. Alterations executed in the middle of the last century included the installation of pews, an organ in the original gallery, and the relocation of the pulpit. The 1991 reordering added a new altar, lectern, and altar steps, while a dramatic glazed reredos depicting Christ and the cross was installed in 2005-06.