A notable feature of Soane's churches is the use of exposed metal elements, especially columns which are placed to support the organ gallery. Whereas, the iron columns supporting the arcade were covered with plaster. Soane had been ambiguous on the matter of exposed iron-work. In a lecture draft for the Royal Academy in 1811, Soane criticised exposed iron works including the Wearmouth Bridge, near Sunderland, for which Soane had been a great supporter to its initiator, his friend Rowland Burdon, (SM Archives MBiii/11/1), and was completed in 1796. Yet, Soane used exposed iron work for the pillars supporting the organ, and those supporting the galleries on the second and ninth bays (SM 54/6/19, 21).