St Joseph Church, Aldershot

St Joseph’s Church stands on a ridge above Aldershot’s town centre, between the Municipal Gardens and the Princes Hall. Built in 1913 on a triangular plot, the red-brick and tile building was designed by George Drysdale to make the most of its awkward shape. Nikolaus Pevsner called it one of the most impressive churches of its date. The architect placed the high altar at the eastern end, where the walls curve into a semi-circle. A narthex and two side chapels occupy the western end, while the nave narrows toward the sanctuary. The floor and doorways use stone, but the rest is brick and tile. The church’s interior holds frescoes by local artist Robert Senior, painted on-site. They show scenes from the Old Testament, including the Wedding at Cana and images inspired by Isaiah. Since 2017, relics, large statues and eighteenth-century religious paintings have been added. The altar is of greyish-green marble, framed by black marble columns with white marble capitals. Original communion rails of the same marble, trimmed with yellow and black, have since been removed. The presbytery next door, built in 1874, is a two-storey red-brick building with a slate roof. Visitors enter through the narthex and walk toward the raised sanctuary. Five black marble columns line the semi-circular apse behind the altar. The walls carry Senior’s frescoes, lit by natural light from the east. Outside, the ridge-top position gives views over Aldershot’s centre. The church shares its parish with St Mary’s in Belle Vue Road, where a Saturday vigil is held. A parish hall now stands where the primary school once stood, rebuilt in the 1970s.