Survey Data
Reg No
20869004
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Artistic, Historical, Social, Technical
Original Use
Church/chapel
In Use As
Church/chapel
Date
1890 - 1900
Coordinates
164947, 69852
Date Recorded
08/03/2011
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Freestanding T-plan gable-fronted Roman Catholic church, built 1895-7, having four-stage square-profile entrance tower with broach-spire to north elevation, nine-bay side elevation to nave, entrance porches and outshots to east and west elevations, canted apse to rear south elevation and adjoining recent building to west. Pitched fishscale tiled roof with terracotta ridge-cresting, limestone coping with moulded render and wrought-iron cross finials and cast-iron rainwater goods on corbelled red brick eaves course. Limestone and red brick octagonal spire with dentilated eaves course and cross finial to apex. Squared coursed dressed limestone walls with limestone and red brick buttresses to nave and tower, red brick quoins and platbands. Single and paired pointed arch window openings to nave and tower with red brick surrounds having roll moulding detail and leaded stained glass. Rose window to north elevation of tower with red brick surround, limestone tracery and stained glass. Pointed arch timber louvered openings to third-stage of tower. Pointed arch door opening to tower with cut limestone surround, marble colonnettes, inner red brick surround and double-leaf timber battened door. Pointed arch door openings to rear and side porches having red brick surrounds, fanlights and timber battened doors. Open timber scissors truss roof to interior nave with battened timber roof to transepts. Pointed arch openings on marble columns separating chancel, nave and transepts. Carved marble altar to front (south) and timber gallery supported on carved timber columns to rear (north), side altars to outshots. Graveyard to west containing carved limestone gravemarkers and carved marble statues dated 1931 depicting the crucifixion. Set back from road with tree-lined avenue to front.
Appraisal
The materials utilised in the construction of St Joseph's Church, such as the red brick, grey limestone and fishscale roof tiles add colour and textural interest to the site. The broach-spire is a particularly eye-catching feature. Notable interior features such as the stained glass and timber roof to interior add artistic interest. It would seem that both Dominick J. Coakley and S.F. Hynes acted as architects to Fr. Zimmermann, with Stephen J. Scully as contractor. This church forms part of an interesting group of related religious structures with the burial ground to the west and St Joseph's College to the south.