A modest interwar design, built in memory of a priest killed in the First World War.

East Hull expanded greatly after World War One, such that Bishop Lacy erected a new parish of the Sacred Heart and a chapel-of-ease dedicated to St Francis. There were an estimated 2,000 Catholics in the parish and Sacred Heart church was the gift of Frank Finn, JP, KCSG (Lord Mayor of Hull and Catholic benefactor), in memory of his priest brother, Fr William Finn, killed in the war.

Description

A modest red brick building with a sparing use of stone for window surrounds, wall copings etc. Slate roof of simple gabled form over nave, sanctuary (with small canted projection). Two prominent roof vents on the main ridge. Later aisles, sacristy etc with flat roofs and parapets. The west front has a castellated porch of oddly tall proportions, with a broad segment-headed five-light window above with flat tracery of minimally Gothic character. The gable above is taken up to a squared off top, with a statue in a corbelled-out niche with a canopy and cupola top. Plain mullioned windows at the lower level and to the side aisles. Foundation stone to the right of the porch. The canted sanctuary apse has large cross-windows to the outer flanks, the centre section blind.

Internally the pushing out of aisles has made the church quite dark. Heavy square piers support the main roof structure and these are plastered and have a stop-chamfer detail to the angles. The main roof has heavy arched trusses on corbels and a boarded roof, ceiled across at collar level. All is painted. Shallow transverse arches and flat painted ceiling to the aisles. West gallery. The sanctuary is simply and attractively furnished with a marble clad table altar and stone and marble communion rail with bold trefoiled arches. Plain octagonal stone font placed in front of the pews on the left-hand side. Octagonal canopy suspended over the altar. Small chapels at the east end of the aisles and a Lady Chapel at the west end of the north aisle. Stained glass with figures of saints in the east windows and decorative stained glass embellishments to other windows, none of it of significant quality.

Amended by AHP 14.01.2019

Heritage Details