List of ecclesiastical restorations and alterations by J. L. Pearson
John Loughborough Pearson (1817–97) was an English architect whose works were mainly ecclesiastical. He was born in Brussels, Belgium, and spent his childhood in Durham. Pearson started his architectural training under Ignatius Bonomi in Durham, becoming his principal assistant. In 1841 he left Bonomi, worked for George Pickering for a short time, then moved to London, where he lived for the rest of his life. He worked for five months with Anthony Salvin, then became principal assistant to Philip Hardwick, initially assisting him in the design of buildings at Lincoln's Inn. Pearson's first individual design was for a small, simple church at Ellerker in the East Riding of Yorkshire. This led to other commissions in that part of the country, which allowed him to leave Hardwick and establish his own independent practice.[1]
Pearson designed many new churches during his career, ranging from small country churches to major churches in cities. Among the latter, St Augustine's Church in Kilburn, London, "may claim to be his masterpiece".[1] Towards the end of his career he designed two new cathedrals, at Truro in Cornwall, and Brisbane in Australia; the latter was not built until after his death, and the building was supervised by his son, Frank. Pearson also carried out work in existing churches, making additions and alterations, or undertaking restorations. Again, these works were to churches of all sizes, from country churches to cathedrals; among the latter he worked on the cathedrals at Lincoln, Peterborough, Bristol, Rochester, Leicester, and Gloucester. Pearson also designed secular buildings, which ranged from schools, vicarages, and small houses, to large country houses, for example, Quarwood in Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire. He designed Two Temple Place in Westminster, London, as an estate office for William Waldorf Astor. Pearson also designed university buildings for Sidney Sussex College and Emmanuel College in Cambridge.[1]
Most of Pearson's buildings are in England (where he worked on at least 210 ecclesiastical buildings),[2] but he also carried out work elsewhere, for example Treberfydd, a country house in Wales, and Holy Trinity Church in Ayr, Scotland. Further afield, in addition to Brisbane Cathedral, he designed a cemetery chapel in Malta. His plans were almost always in Gothic Revival style, but in some buildings he used other styles, for example Tudor Revival at Two Temple Place, and Jacobean at Lechlade Manor in Gloucestershire.[1] In the cemetery chapel in Malta, he combined Romanesque Revival and Gothic Revival features.[3] Pearson was awarded the Gold Medal of the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1880. He had one son, Frank Loughborough Pearson, who worked with him as an assistant, completed some of his works after his father's death, and then continued in his own independent practice. Pearson died at his London home and was buried in Westminster Abbey. His estate amounted to over £53,000 (equivalent to £7,600,000 in 2023).[1][4] This list contains Pearson's major works on existing ecclesiastical works, including all those in the National Heritage List for England.
Restoration of the tower and spire, and rebuilding of the north aisle, of a church that was built in the 12th-13th century, and extended in the 15th-16th century.[18]
Restoration of a church originating in the 12th century, which included the rebuilding of the west tower and the south aisle wall, and adding a porch.[1][19]
Restoration and alterations to a Norman church. The alterations included rebuilding the east end, replacing all but one of the windows, and adding a new porch. The church has since been declared redundant, and is under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust.[26][27][28]
Extension to the chancel of a church built in 1841–43. The church was declared redundant in 1973, and has since been converted into an arts centre.[31]
The church was commenced in 1876 to a design by Frederick Rogers. Pearson made alterations, including adding vestries and an organ chamber, followed by the nave in 1891–92. It was completed by his son, Frank.[51]
Restoration of a church dating from 1402, in which the galleries were removed, the clerestory and the roofs were rebuilt, and window tracery was replaced.[52]
Added a north aisle to a church built in 1868–69 by G. E. Street. It was further extended between 1899 and 1905 by Arthur Blomfield, but was damaged by fire in 1985, and later converted into flats.[53][54]
Restoration of a church dating from the early 12th century. At about the same time Pearson designed the lychgate, which is listed separately at Grade II.[85][86]
^Page, William, ed. (1935), "Parishes: Burley", A History of the County of Rutland, Victoria County History, vol. 2, University of London & History of Parliament Trust, pp. 112–119, retrieved 4 December 2012