The Round Arch
The Newsletter of the Byzantine-Romanesque Revival Group
Number 1 (April 2012)
I announced the formation of the group at the annual conference of the North West Catholic History Society in September 2011, but have only just got round to compiling this newsletter. There is no formal organisation for this group and no subscription. The newsletter will normally be distributed by e-mail, but members who do not have e-mail will be sent it by post. If you know anyone who would like to join, please let them have my e-mail or postal address:
J.A. Hilton
282 Whelley
Wigan
Lancashire
WN2 1DA
Contributions to this newsletter from members are welcome.
It is non-denominational, i.e. not confined to Roman Catholics and/or Roman Catholic churches.
I would also welcome any suggestions as to establishing a website or blog.
I would also welcome suggestions for a snappier title for this group.
The formation of this group was suggested by
The Bad News
Which is that the Catholic church of All Souls and St John Vianney, Liverpool Street, Weaste, Salford, architect William Ellis, built 1932-34, in the neo-Romanesque style, its east end decorated with blue and gold mosaics by Dinnelli & Figli of Pietrasanta, having been closed on All Souls’ Day, 2 November 2010, has subsequently been demolished. I understand that some of its fittings have been removed to the church of the Mother of God and St James, Pendleton Way, Salford, M6 5JA. My own photos of the exterior and interior of the now demolished church are below, together with Dr Allan Mitchinson’s photo of the remnants of its mosaic floor. More photographs are available onwww.stjamesandallsouls.co.uk/gallery.htm
In present circumstances the Catholic Church in England finds itself obliged to close churches, but alternative uses should be found for them rather than demolition. Unfortunately this building was not Listed. I suggest that if this building had been neo-Gothic, a campaign might have been launched to save it, which is why I decided to form this group.
All Souls & St John Vianney, Weaste, Salford
The Good News
is that SS Peter and Paul, New Brighton, which was closed in 2008, has been re-opened, and entrusted by the Bishop of Shrewsbury to the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest for the celebration of the liturgy in the Old or Tridentine or Extraordinary Latin Rite. (See the photographs below.) This neo-Byzantine church, opened in 1935, was the work of Ernest Bower Norris of Manchester. (See Brian Plumb, Catholic Cheshire (Wigan, 2001).
SS Peter & Paul, New Brighton
Moreover, Teresa Sladen and Andrew Saint (eds), Studies in Victorian Architecture and Design, Volume Three, Churches 1870-1914 (Victorian Society, London, 2011), contains Saint’s ‘The late Victorian church’, which culminates with Byzantine Westminster Cathedral, and Sladen’s sympathetic, ‘Byzantium in the chancel: surface decoration and the church interior’, which begins with the perceptive ‘It was only when the Byzantine Revival became entwined with the Arts and Crafts Movement at the end of the 19th century that it came into full flower.
Meanwhile, Mrs Josie Potkin has kindly sent me the photograph below of All Souls, Every St, Ancoats, Manchester. This Anglican, Commissioners’ church in the neo-Romanesque style was built in 1839-40 by William Hayley (see Pevsner). It is now a wood store.
All Souls, Every St, Ancoats, ManchesterDr Phillip Dixon has sent me a number of photographs taken on his travels through England, and I will put them in our next newsletter, if I can persuade my PC to let me do so.
My The Artifice of Eternity: The Byzantine-Romanesque Revival in Catholic Lancashire is still available for £18 (post-free) payable to North West Catholic History Society from
Mr B. T. Farrimond
11 Tower Hill
Ormskirk
Lancashire
L39 2EE
Since its publication I have added two supplements, which are available free from me.
Also available from me is my Antonio Barluzzi: Architect of the Holy Places at £1 (post-free) payable to Mr J. A. Hilton.
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