Spashett for Austin Vernon & Partners, opened in 1965 by Princess Alexandra and consecrated by Michael Ramsey, is a locally listed building of outstanding architectural significance, and is notable for originally having had the tallest sectional aluminium spire of its time, and for being one of the earliest 20th-century chapels of modern design to have been conceived with a central altar.

It is described as: "An interesting modern building of unusual design featuring a striking gull wing upper roof swept to ground level on one side; grey brick with tall, narrow window lights".

The building could not be upgraded to national status by The Department for Culture, Media and Sport, representing English Heritage[5] in April 1999, as the spire was gone so the massiveness of the roof structure could no longer be understood by the assessors who were puzzled to find it "overscaled".

[6] When opened complete with spire in 1965, the South East London Mercury described the chapel as "a showpiece of modern architecture and building technique".

[9] A small cross-piece through the top cone section doubled as the hilt of a sword, representing the Church Army in the context of such Biblical expressions as "good soldier of Christ".

In the official programme for the 1965 opening[13] the building is described as follows: "The chapel is of special interest: it has been planned to suit modern conceptions of worship, with the faithful gathered round the communion table and the celebrant normally facing the people.

Its shell roof is in the shape of a hyperbolic paraboloid, and is constructed of three thin skins of timber laid in different directions, glued and spiked, being supported entirely by its two buttresses.

[19] Drainage could compromise the smooth appearance with guttering and pipes, or it could encourage chronic leakage over time if holes had to be made in the structure.

In The Vigil, the dawn light falls from the east window above the altar onto the squire and his sword, and the purification is symbolised by the glow of the white surplice.

[27][28] In the Blackheath chapel, a blue celestial light is designed to fall in the shape of a cross or sword across the central altar of the basilica-shaped[29] interior from the east side.

Ernest Trevor Spashett (1923–1994) was born in Penzance and served in the Royal Air Force 1942–1947, gaining his wings in 1945,[36] and flying Halifaxes.

[37] He was apprenticed to architect F.G. Drewitt in Penzance, Cornwall,[36][nb 1] before World War II, designing under supervision the Guildhall at St Ives in 1939 at the age of 16.

The zig-zag, half-fenced ramp he designed for the front steps instantly became a racetrack, and had to be heavily fenced after too many skid turns on the corners created flying wheelchairs.

[47] The premises were sold by the Church Army in 1994 to Blackheath High School, which between 1999 and 2009 was using the chapel as a music room and dance studio.