Survey Data
Reg No
41401240
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Artistic, Social
Original Use
Church/chapel
In Use As
Church/chapel
Date
1810 - 1915
Coordinates
255831, 325509
Date Recorded
31/07/2013
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Freestanding barn-style Roman Catholic church with Gothic Revival detailing, dated 1812, burnt down and rebuilt 1841, repaired 1877, rebuilt 1910-11 to design by Professor Scott-McKenna. Consisting of four-bay nave with lower single-bay chancel to south, three-stage tower to north, offset baptistery to north of tower internal angle, sacristy to east of apse, and lean-to addition to north end of east wall. Pitched slate roofs with crested blue/black crested ridge tiles, corbelled-out sandstone verges, Celtic Cross finial to south gable of apse, and moulded cast-iron gutters on moulded stone corbels. Tower has hipped roof with cross finial and buttresses to corners, and clock to north face. Pebble dash rendered, with rendered quoins, rendered tower, inscribed datestone, and flush nap rendered quoins. Stone plaque on rear wall reads 'HAECCE DOMUS / AEDIFICATA FUIT / ANNO SALUTIS / 1818 / PASTORE GUILI / ELMO HARRIS / ARCHIDIACONO / CLOGHERENSI'. Pointed-arch window openings with chamfered stone surrounds and metal frames with obscure glass. Three-light window to altar end has figurative stained glass. square-headed two and three-light leaded windows to sacristy. Pointed-arch timber door to tower, and square-headed to sacristy. Nap rendered walls to interior with moulded dado rail. Panelled timber balcony supported on timber columns. Barrel-profile roof with braced arched trussed timber trusses and with T&G sheeting to underside of roof. Pine pews and confessionals. Carved timber Stations of the Cross. Stone stoups to interior of entrances. Sculpted marble reredos and altar. Set within graveyard on elevated site.
Appraisal
The salient external feature of Saint Livinus' Church is its prominent tower, and its siting on rising ground, making it a landmark over a considerable distance. The render details to the tower and to the eaves add interest to the exterior. Its interior is enhanced by the large stained-glass window and the marble reredos and altar, and by the carved timber gallery and Stations of the Cross.