R. C. Carpenter (1812–1855) was an English architect whose output consisted mainly of churches in Gothic Revival style. He was born in Clerkenwell, London, and was educated at Charterhouse School. () His first commissions, obtained through his father, were for domestic properties, including Lonsdale Square in London, and for designs for railway companies. However, his main interest was in designing churches.

Carpenter joined the Cambridge Camden Society in 1841 and was, with A. W. N. Pugin, a keen advocate of designing churches with features taken accurately from actual Gothic predecessors. His town churches include St Mary Magdalene, Munster Square, London, which is described as his "most illustrious" church, and St Paul, Brighton.

Carpenter also designed smaller country churches which shared a similar plan, and this plan was also used for two churches in Australia. Carpenter restored churches and cathedrals, the latter including Chichester and St Patrick, Dublin. He also carried out work on country houses, and designed buildings for schools, including Sherborne School, Hurstpierpoint College, and Lancing College. He died from tuberculosis at the age of 42, and was buried in Highgate Cemetery.

Key

Grade(England) CriteriaGrade I Buildings of exceptional interest, sometimes considered to be internationally important.Grade II* Particularly important buildings of more than special interest.Grade II Buildings of national importance and special interest. Category (Scotland) CriteriaCategory B Buildings of special architectural or historic interest which are major examples of a particular period, style or building type.Category C Buildings of special architectural or historic interest which are representative examples of a period, style or building type. "—" denotes a work that is not graded.

Works

NameLocationPhotographDateNotesGradeLonsdale SquareBarnsbury, Islington,Greater Londonc. 1838–45A square of Gothic Revival terraced houses.Christ ChurchAlbany Street, Camden,Greater London1839–43Alterations to a church built in 1836. It served as the cathedral of the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch from 1989 to 2023.Percy ArmsGreat Percy Street, Islington, Greater Londonc. 1840A public house in Italianate style.Chichester CathedralChichester, West Sussex1840–Restoration, continued by J. Butler.St Stephen's ChurchBirmingham, West Midlands1841–44A new church, since demolished.St James' ChurchNutley, East Sussex1842–44A new small country church.St Mary's ChurchStowting, Kent1843–44Restoration of the chancel of a church dating from the 13th century.St Andrew's ChurchBirmingham, West Midlands1844–46A new church, since demolished.St Giles' ChurchBodiam, East Sussex1845–46Restoration of a church dating from the 14th century.Camden HouseChipping Campden, Gloucestershire1846Remodelling for Lord Gainsborough of a house originally built in 1628.St Thomas à Becket's ChurchPucklechurch, Gloucestershire1846Restoration of a church dating from the 13th century.St Paul's ChurchBrighton, East Sussex1846–48A new church. The steeple was added in 1873–75 by his son, R. H. Carpenter.St John the Baptist's ChurchBuckland, Tasmania, Australia1846–48A new church.St Nicholas' ChurchKemerton, Worcestershire1846–50Rebuilding of the church, other than the west tower, for Revd Thomas Thorp, Archdeacon of Bristol.All Saints ChurchBrighton, East Sussex1847–52A new church, since demolished.St Andrew's ChurchMonkton Wyld,Wootton Fitzpaine, Dorset1848A new church in Gothic Revival style.RectoryMonkton Wyld,Wootton Fitzpaine, Dorset1848Built as the rectory for St Andrew's Church. Later used as a house and known as Monkton Wyld Court.Holy Innocents' ChurchRossmore, New South Wales, Australia1848–50A new church.St Peter the Great's ChurchChichester, West Sussex1848–52A new church, damaged in the Second World War. It has since been declared redundant and converted into a public house.St Laurence's ChurchCatsfield, East Sussex1849Restoration of the church, which dates from the 12th century, and rebuilding of its north aisle.St John the Baptist's ChurchCookham Dean, Berkshire1849A new small country church.St Laurence's ChurchHawkhurst, Kent1849Restoration and extension of a church dating from the 14th century.Captain Cook School and School HouseMiddlesbrough,North Yorkshire1849–50Built as a primary school. Later converted into a private house and nursery.St Mary Magdalene's ChurchMunster Square, Camden, Greater London1849–52A new church in Gothic Revival style.Kilndown HouseKilndown, Kent1849–55Built as the vicarage for Kilndown Church. The associated stable courtyard was also designed by Carpenter, and is listed separately at Grade II.Sherborne AbbeySherborne, Dorset1849–58Restoration of the transepts, the choir, and a porch.St Peter and St Paul's ChurchAlgarkirk, Lincolnshire1850–54Restoration of a church dating from the late 12th century.St Stephen's Episcopal Church and ParsonageBurntisland, Fife, Scotland1850–54Commenced by Carpenter, the parsonage was completed by William Slater. The church was never completed, and was demolished in 1875.Episcopal SchoolBurntisland, Fife, Scotland1850–54Built as a church school, later used as the hall for a pipe band.Church of St James the LessStubbings, Berkshire1850–54A new small country church.St Mary's ChurchOld Town, Eastbourne,East Sussex1851Restoration of a church dating from the late 12th century.St John the Evangelist's ChurchBovey Tracey, Devon1851–53A new small country church.Almshouses and chapelBelmont Rural, Herefordshire1852A row of almshouses with a chapel at the south end, built for F. C. Wegg-Prosser.St Nicholas' ChurchBrighton, East Sussex1853A church dating from the 14th century, largely rebuilt.Hurstpierpoint CollegeHurstpierpoint, West Sussex1853Completed after his death by his son, R. H. Carpenter, and Benjamin Ingelow.East and West Quadrangles,Lancing CollegeLancing, West Sussex1853–55The earliest buildings of the college, completed by William Slater.Bedgebury ParkBedgebury Cross, Kent1854–55Alterations to a country house dating from 1688. The house was later used as a school.St Mary's ChurchSompting, West Sussex1854–55Restoration of a church dating from the 11th–12th century.Christ ChurchMilton-next-Gravesend, Kent1854–56A new church, completed by William Slater after Carpenter's death, later extended; it was demolished in 1935 and rebuilt on a nearby site.Boys' School House, Sherborne SchoolSherborne, Dorset1860Designed by Carpenter, but not built until after his death.St Patrick's CathedralDublin, Republic of IrelandUndatedRestoration.School House Studies, Sherborne SchoolSherborne, DorsetUndatedRestoration of the 15th-century wing of the former abbey, which included the abbey kitchen.

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