The Church was constructed in the mid 1950s and variously rearranged following the Second Vatican Council. Years of service were apparent in its general condition and layout.
An engagement of some years allowed the Architect to closely evolving the vision with the client and then enrol Matt Harding and the Flynn brothers as artists in sympathy with it. The collaboration resulted in a transformation of the spaces to fulfil their sacred intent.
The Architect's challenge was to temper the effect of the grand so that the liturgy could be experienced in an intimate and personal way and with participation in a large communal space.
It was also to balance renewal with a respect for the past - to preserve much of what is familiar whilst creating an uplifting environment that re-engages parishioners.
This revitalization leverages the building’s inherent strengths, including its wonderful proportions and simplicity. The brief was not restoration but renewal for the next 50 years.
The solution is many subtle interventions, paring the items participating in the space to quieten the internal 'noise' and harmonising the elements of worship. Ancillary rooms were removed, allowing for a new Gathering Space linking the Church to a School and bringing light into the nave. This intersection of old and new is a new layer in its history and is celebrated with copper clad 'portals' which frame the modified brick openings.
The internal layout has been re-imagined to acknowledge the multiple entries, the undulating forms softening the boundary between priest and parishioner whilst strengthening the liturgical focal points. The bent-wood screen, by Matt Harding, creates a permeable division between large and small areas of worship.
The new suite of timber liturgical furniture harmonises with the warmth of the existing brickwork and copper surrounds, balancing the hewn bluestone of the altar and font.
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