bloomsbury baptist church, london

built on shaftesbury avenue in 1845-8 by john gibson, sort of romanesque but with the fun taken out. this probably cost a bob or two, but remains a rather dreary building, especially close up, and even more so inside. perhaps it looked better when it had spires and a gable, but I suspect that the detail always failed to impress. the 60s did the place no favours inside either, but I expect that the puritan suspicion of beauty is most to blame.