An elegant and economical stripped classical design of the mid-1960s by a local architect.

The church of The Holy Name was built under the auspices of Mgr Wilson of the parish of Our Lady Immaculate to serve the new housing developments in the Moulsham Lodge area. The site was purchased in 1960. A temporary church was erected and the first Mass was said in April 1962. The foundation stone of the present church was laid on 22 April 1964 and the building was opened for worship in July 1965. The architects were O’Neill & Fordham of Chelmsford, and the builder Messrs A. J. Arnold. The church was designed to seat 470. Holy Name became a separate parish in 1970.

Description

The building is designed in a stripped classical style. The walls are faced with brownish-yellow brick laid in Flemish bond. The main church is square on plan with slight projections front and rear. The building has a flat roof with a central glazed drum over the nave topped by a saucer dome over with a copper covering. The main front has nine vertical strip windows under a thin concrete string and in the centre of the front is a broad entrance door, up steps, with a moulded concrete surround. The three windows above the door are short while the three on either side are longer. On each side elevation are three rectangular windows without surrounds set high in the wall. At the rear is a lower building containing sacristies and a small hall.

The interior has plain plastered walls. There is a glazed vestibule are inside the entrance and a broad shallow arch in the east wall leading to the short sanctuary. The fittings appear to be mainly contemporary with the church (a new altar was consecrated in 1985).

Heritage Details