Roman Catholic Church Of St Willibrords

MANCHESTER

SJ89NE NORTH ROAD, Beswick And Clayton 698-1/5/534 (North side) Roman Catholic church of St Willibrords

II

Roman Catholic church. 1937-38, by Reynolds and Scott. Buff brick (roof not visible). Modernist Byzantine style. Nave with low central tower, west narthex with south porch, tall north and south aisles, north chapels and vetry, chancel and apse. Very high nave with pilastered parapet stepped up in the centre to meet chamfered corners of low tower which has 3 small round-headed lancets at parapet level and a band of small rectangular windows below the cornice (alternately blind); tall south aisle in the form of 3 gabled transeptal bays with narrow links (the gables false), a square-headed doorway to the centre bay with stone surround flanked by small square-headed lancets, 3 similar lancets in each of the outer bays, and above these openings in each bay a tall round-headed lancet in a round-headed blank arch. Tall gabled porch to left with doorway like that in centre but including a statue in a niche, and an oculus above. Tall narthex with similar west doorway, and west window above like those of the aisle. North aisle similar to south aisle but with low chapels attached to centre and west bays. Interior: 3 sail-domes with transverse arches on wall-piers pierced for aisle passages and by semi-circular arches at the tops; north aisle chapels formed of 3 low semi-circular arches diminishing in succession; apsidal sanctuary with mosaic arcading ceiling depicting the Holy Spirit as dove, side chapels and altars also with mosaics. Similar to Church of St Dunstan, Moston Lane, Lightbowne (q.v.), also by Reynolds.

Listing NGR: SJ8833898785