Building record 3884/19/1 - Church of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart and Presbytery

{1} Roman Catholic church and presbytery. C.1885-6, by S.J. Nicholl. Rusticated ironstone with ashlar dressings and plain-tile roof. Nave, aisled chancel transepts, baptistry and attached presbytery, all have north south axis. Perpendicular style. Single-storey church, presbytery has 2 storeys and attic. East elevation; chancel of 3-window range of 3-light windows with 2-stage buttresses between. Transept has large 3-light window with transom. Nave of 3-window range of irregularly spaced 2- and 3-li t windows. Plain corbelled cornice and ashlar gable parapets with finials and foliated kneelers. Gabled porch to far left has door with ogee head and window above central statue. West elevation; nave is similar to east elevation. South gable elevation has large 6-light window. North gable elevation has central rose window, moulded stone ogee surround and blank 2-light window above with ogee head; all flanked by pair of 3-stage buttresses. Presbytery to right has 2 projecting gables with arched entrance between. Gable to left has 8-light stone mullion window to ground floor. Other windows are sash with glazing bars and moulded stone surrounds. The ground and first floor windows to the right gable are linked by a moulded stone surround. Ashlar gable parapet and brick stack at ridge. Rear of presbytery is similar. Interior: 2-bay chancel arcade of tall Perpendicular style arches. Large moulded stone canopy over altar has ogee-head arch with rose window behind. Marble altar with reredos. Chamfered arches, with foliated and corbelled capitals, to transepts. Wooden barrel and trussed rafter roofs. Marble chancel rail probably early C20 with elaborate flanking statue niches and figures on tie beam above. Nave windows have niches with statues between. Stone pulpit with niches and statues. Baptistry to left of chancel has marble altar and moulded stone font. Stained glass to baptitstry and rose windows are probably by Kempe. (Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.453.)

{3}Roman Catholic church and presbytery. C.1885-6, by S.J.Nicholl. Single storey church. Presbytery has 2 storeys and attic.

{4} The tower was not built. The interior has a strange junction of transepts and chancel chapels. Rose eindow at the east end.

{5} Undated photo;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 4/117 (checked) (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> 1986, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), G04 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN100394.

<3> 1986, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, p.52 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN46476.

<4> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p. 453 (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<5> Photographs of buildings in Wellinborough (Photographs). SNN115387.

Record last edited

Aug 30 2023 2:18PM