Our Lady and St Edward. Gordon Road, St Ann s, Nottingham NG3. National Grid Reference SK Statement of Importance

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Louisa Snow
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1 Our Lady and St Edward Gordon Road, St Ann s, Nottingham NG3 National Grid Reference SK Statement of Importance The rather unprepossessing exterior of the church contrasts with the reposeful and attractive plain Gothic character of the interior. The church is a late manifestation of Gothic in the Diocese, with added interest given by the additions and alterations made in the 1960s by the notable Catholic architect Gerard Goalen.

2 Part 1: Core data 1.1. Listed grade: Not listed 1.2. Conservation Area: No 1.3. Scheduled Ancient Monument: No 1.4. Churchyard: No 1.5. Dates: 1956, Architect(s): Reynolds & Scott; Gerard Goalen 1.7. Date of visit: 3 August Name of report author: Andrew Derrick 1.9. Name of parish priest and/or contact(s) made on site: Rev Quentin Jackson OFM Associated buildings: Friary, primary school, social club Bibliographic references: Catholic Building Review (Southern edition), 1956 and 1967 Leaflet for centenary Mass, 1985 Nottingham Diocesan Yearbook, 1955, 1957 Part 2: The building, its contents and its setting 2.1. Historical background In 1885 the Sisters of St Joseph of Peace established themselves in the Blue Bell Hill area, serving a poor community. A school was opened, in which Mass was also celebrated. In 1930 a parish was created, and the Franciscans given charge of it. They soon realised that the existing school chapel was not adequate for the growing parish, and by 1937 a large site on Gordon Road was acquired, on which would be built a church, school and Friary. The foundation stone for the church was laid by Bishop Ellis on 13 October (the Feast of St Edward), The foundation stone incorporated a fragment of stone from the ancient Friary of Broadmarsh, establishing a link with the medieval Franciscan community in Nottingham. The church was built to accommodate a congregation of about 260, from designs by Reynolds & Scott of Manchester. It was not possible for it to be completed in one phase; in particular, the sanctuary remained unfinished, with a temporary east wall and sanctuary under the crossing. The sanctuary was completed in 1966 to a different design, by Gerard Goalen (and built as part of the same contract as Goalen s new Friary buildings). There have been subsequent modifications to the design of the church and Friary. The social club and school were built after the church and predate the Friary.

2.2. The building and its principal fittings and furnishings Figure 1: The church as completed (CBR, 1956, 97) The church is in a plain modern Gothic style.

3 2.2. The building and its principal fittings and furnishings Figure 1: The church as completed (CBR, 1956, 97) The church is in a plain modern Gothic style. It consists of a nave with narrow circulation aisles, short transepts giving off a squat central tower and a short (later) square ended chancel. As originally designed, there was no central west door; the entrances were placed in two side porches either side of a central narthex (see figure 1). More recently the side entrances have been glazed in and a central entrance formed (see photo top left). The church is built in fair facing brick, with sparing use of reconstituted stone in the dressings. The nave roof is externally covered with Westmorland slates. The lower aisles have flat reinforced concrete roofs, concealed by raised parapets. The windows throughout are narrow lancets with triangular headed tops. There are (empty) reconstituted stone niches over the blocked side entrances. Goalen s sanctuary consists of a single tall (equal in height to the crossing) bay, and is built of matching brick (visible on the left of the photograph, top left). Its east wall is plain, apart from a brick projection above altar level, for a tabernacle recess. The present central entrance leads into an enclosed narthex area under a western choir gallery (which extends over the former side entrances). The nave consists of five bays divided by a series of light steel box framed trusses, plastered and pierced by chamfered Gothic arches rising up without mouldings or capitals. Within each bay compartment is a simple boarded pitched roof with double purlins. There is a small clerestorey window in each bay. The tower over the crossing is supported by two brick Gothic arches, plastered and covered by a flat reinforced concrete roof. The aisle compartments also have an internal flat roof. The internal walls are plastered, except for a plinth of dark red brick. The windows are glazed with diamond pattern leaded lights of tinted glass, with original inset stained glass in the west window and north transept. At the east end is a recess for the tabernacle, incorporating a mosaic representation of St Francis and St Edward (artist not identified). The liturgical furniture consists of simply-designed items reflecting Franciscan ideals and post- Vatican II arrangements. The open fronted, table-like stone altar is raised on two steps, and there are three further steps up to the tabernacle. This arrangement may be by Goalen (not confirmed).

Figure 2: Garden elevation of Goalen s Friary as completed (CBR 1967, 503) Gerard Goalen s Friary buildings date from 1966.

4 Figure 2: Garden elevation of Goalen s Friary as completed (CBR 1967, 503) Gerard Goalen s Friary buildings date from They are of pale brick and are single storey with shallow pitched felt-covered roofs, arranged around a central cloister. The elevation to the street is very self effacing (photo top left), while the garden elevation is enlivened by projecting bays marking the cells (the bay cladding and the windows have been altered; compare figure 2 and photo middle right). Internally, the walls and floor of the cloister walk are faced in brick. The cloister garth is mostly paved, with a small rectangular pond The church in its setting The church, Friary and associated buildings occupy a large and raised site at the top of Gordon Road in the St Ann s area. This is an impoverished area of post-war lowrise housing Listed status The church and Friary are not listed. The exterior of the church is unremarkable and has been altered, while the interior is of some quality. The sanctuary and the Friary are by a notable post-war Catholic architect, several of whose buildings are listed (including Good Shepherd, Woodthorpe, which is listed grade II). The Friary is an interesting modern reinterpretation of a traditional monastic plan, but again has been altered somewhat unsympathetically. On balance it is considered that the buildings fall short of the special interest that would justify statutory listing, but they are of undoubted architectural and historic interest, and it would be prudent to consult the HCC and possibly English Heritage if major changes are contemplated. Part 3: Managing the building into its future 3.1. Condition The condition of the church appears to be good. The Friary buildings are beginning to look somewhat dilapidated and some of the finishes (e.g. the felt roofs) are not designed for longevity.

5 3.2. Ancillary facilities These are provided in the adjacent buildings (social club, school and Friary) Access There is level access into and around the church To what extent is the building amenable or vulnerable to change? As a consequence of remaining in use as a place of worship: The internal volumes are impressive and should be respected in any major change. As a consequence of being closed as a place of worship and passing into alternative secular use: It is difficult to conceive of an alternative viable use for this church in the unfortunate event of closure. The Friary buildings might be converted to another use e.g. residential or sheltered accommodation Category: 3

A meeting house built on a new site in 1961 to the design of Joseph Konrad. The building is of low heritage significance.

Friends Meeting House, Beverley Quaker Lane, (off Woodlands), Beverley, HU17 8BY National Grid Reference: TA 02930 39656 Statement of Significance A meeting house built on a new site in 1961 to the design