Survey Data
Reg No
15505043
Rating
National
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Artistic, Historical, Scientific, Social, Technical
Original Use
Church/chapel
In Use As
Church/chapel
Date
1850 - 1860
Coordinates
304944, 121368
Date Recorded
05/07/2005
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Detached seven-bay double-height Catholic church, begun 1851; completed 1858; dated 1858, on a rectangular plan comprising seven-bay double-height nave opening into seven-bay single-storey lean-to side aisles; single-bay four-stage tower to entrance (west) front on a square plan supporting broach spire. Renovated, ----, with sanctuary reordered. Pitched slate roof; lean-to slate roofs (side aisles), roll moulded cut-granite ridge tiles, cut-granite coping to gables on trefoil-detailed gabled kneelers with Cross finial to apex (east), and cast-iron rainwater goods on cut-granite eaves retaining cast-iron downpipes. Tuck pointed coursed or snecked "Old Red Sandstone" walls on cut-granite chamfered cushion course on plinth with cut-granite flush quoins to corners; tuck pointed coursed or snecked "Old Red Sandstone" walls (tower) on benchmark-inscribed cut-granite chamfered cushion course on plinth with clasping stepped buttresses to corners having cut-granite "slated" coping. Paired pointed-arch window openings (clerestorey) between cast-iron cruciform tie plates, cut-granite mullions, and cut-granite block-and-start surrounds having chamfered reveals with hood mouldings on monolithic label stops framing fixed-pane fittings having lattice glazing bars. Pointed-arch window openings (side aisles) with cut-granite mullions, and cut-granite block-and-start surrounds having chamfered reveals with hood mouldings on monolithic label stops framing storm glazing over fixed-pane fittings having leaded stained glass panels. Pointed-arch window opening (east) with cut-granite mullions, and cut-granite block-and-start surround having chamfered reveals with hood moulding on monolithic label stops framing storm glazing over fixed-pane fittings having leaded stained glass panels. Pointed-arch door opening (tower) with cut-granite step threshold, and cut-granite block-and-start surround having rebated reveals with hood moulding on monolithic label stops framing timber boarded double doors. Pointed-arch window opening (second stage) with cut-granite mullions, and cut-granite block-and-start surround having chamfered reveals with hood moulding on monolithic label stops framing fixed-pane fittings having lattice glazing bars. Pair of lancet openings (third stage) with cut-granite block-and-start surrounds having chamfered reveals framing fixed-pane fittings. Pair of pointed-arch openings (bell stage) between unfilled clock face roundel with cut-granite mullions, and cut-granite block-and-start surrounds having rebated reveals with hood mouldings on monolithic label stops framing louvered fittings. Interior including vestibule (west) with tessellated "quarry tile" floor, pair of wall-mounted Gothic-style ledgers with effigy-topped opposing tomb (----), pair of polished red granite Gothic-style wall monuments (ob. 1905; 1906), and timber boarded ceiling on chamfered timber beams on cut-granite beaded corbels; pointed-arch door opening into nave with glazed timber panelled double doors having overlight; full-height interior open into roof with arcaded choir gallery (west) on pointed-arch tripartite arcade supporting Gothic-style timber panelled pipe organ (1858), tiled central aisle between roll topped quatrefoil-detailed timber pews, pointed-arch arcades on cut-granite pillars, exposed pointed-arch braced collared timber roof construction on "Cavetto"-detailed thumbnail beaded corbels with timber boarded ceiling in carved timber frame on carved timber cornice, carpeted stepped dais to sanctuary (east) reordered, ----, with arcaded communion railings centred on replacement altar below stained glass "East Window" (----), stepped daises to side altars with stained glass windows (----), timber boarded wainscoting to side aisles supporting chamfered timber dado rails, Gothic-style timber stations between stained glass memorial windows (1879; 1950), Gothic-style timber panelled confessional boxes, and exposed strutted timber roof construction on cut-granite beaded corbels with wind braced timber rafters to ceilings on carved timber cornices. Set in relandscaped grounds on a corner site.
Appraisal
A church erected as one of a pair (see 15502138) to designs by Richard Pierce (1801-54) representing an important component of the built heritage of County Wexford with the architectural value of the composition, one clearly showing the influence of Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin (1812-52) on his former clerk of works (cf. 15700905; 15701428), confirmed by such attributes as the rectilinear plan form, aligned along a liturgically-correct axis; the construction in a ruby-coloured "Old Red Sandstone" offset by silver-grey granite dressings not only demonstrating good quality workmanship, but also producing a lively two-tone palette; the "pointed" profile of the openings underpinning a "medieval" Gothic theme with the chancel defined by an elegant "East Window" modelled "after" Holycross Abbey (founded 1169) in County Tipperary; and the James Joseph McCarthy (1817-82)-designed polygonal broach spire embellishing the tower as a familiar eye-catcher in the landscape. Having been well maintained, the elementary form and massing survive intact together with substantial quantities of the original fabric, both to the exterior and to the arcaded interior reordered (----) in accordance with liturgical reforms sanctioned by the Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican (1962-5) where an effigy commemorating Reverend James Roche (1801-83); a pipe organ supplied (1858) by Telford and Telford (founded 1830) of Dublin; vibrant stained glass; the Art Nouveau-like O'Keeffe Memorial Window signed (1919) by Harry Clarke (1889-1931) of Dublin; and the jewel-like "East Window" supplied by John Hardman and Company (established 1838) of Birmingham, all highlight the considerable artistic potential of the composition: meanwhile, an exposed timber roof construction pinpoints the engineering or technical dexterity of a church forming part of a self-contained group alongside the adjacent Convent of the Perpetual Adoration (see 15505042) with the resulting ecclesiastical ensemble making a pleasing visual statement in an urban street scene.