An economical design of the late 1950s, of conventional longitudinal plan. The treatment of the arcades is a distinctive feature, and there is good stained glass in the sanctuary.

The present church was built in 1959-60 (foundation stone laid 6 October 1959; consecrated 1 December 1960), replacing one on the same site, said to have been built in 1921.

Description

The church is oriented west so the directions given here are liturgical.

The church is built of stretcher bond brickwork – red for the western entrance bay and buff for the remainder – with artificial cast stone dressings. It consists of a four-bay nave and sanctuary in one, and north and south aisles. The nave lies under a pitched, red-tiled roof whereas the aisles have flat roofs behind brick parapets. The west façade has a quasi-tower for a narthex partially embraced by the west ends of the aisles. An artificial stone cross projects up from the gable and its shaft is flanked by pairs of elongated windows. The fenestration in the sides of the aisles consists of four four-light and one two-light windows forming a more or less continuous strip. There is no clerestory to the nave.

Inside, at the west end there is an organ gallery running across both nave and aisles. The arcades consist of four wide bays with square piers with rounded edges. They support a high lintel between the nave and the aisles, thus creating a sense of light spaciousness. The nave ceiling rises in two coved tiers and the bottom of each tier has a continuous strip of lighting behind (probably) plastic coverings. The aisle ceilings are of flattened segmental section. All the ceilings are covered in insulating tiles. Two stained glass windows in the sanctuary are notable works in rich colours, signed by Jean Lesquile of Anglet, Basses Pyrenees (undated) and depicting the Risen Christ and the Nativity.

Amended by AHP 15.01.2021

Heritage Details