Roman Catholic Church Of St Joseph

LYTHAM ST ANNES

SD32NW WOODLANDS ROAD, Ansdell 621-1/2/5 (East side) Roman Catholic Church of St Joseph

II

Roman Catholic church, with attached presbytery. 1909-14 (dated 1911 on north gable wall); by Pugin, Pugin and Pugin, for James and Roger Taylor. Coursed squared yellow sandstone with red sandstone dressings and graduated Cumbrian slate roof. Decorated style. Nave on approx. north-south axis, with east and west aisles, double transepts incorporating side chapels, sacristy continued from west transept (and linked to presbytery by a short passage or cloister), sanctuary at south end and detached north-east tower linked to east aisle. The tall 3-stage tower, with angle buttresses carried up to octagonal pinnacles, and various weathered bands, has a 2-centred arched north doorway with deeply moulded surround (leading to an internal porch), a lettered band above this, a tall canopied niche containing a statue and flanked by narrow 2-stage cusped lancets, pairs of quatrefoils between stages above this, a belfry stage with pairs of tall louvred windows, and an elaborate machicolated parapet with cusped machicolation, pierced lettering and crow-stepped coping. The gable of the nave, divided by buttresses into 3 bays, has a similar lettered band, segmental-headed 2-light traceried windows below this in the outer bays, a tall canopied niche with a statue in the centre bay, 3 tall narrow 2-light traceried windows (that in the centre stepped up, over the niche) and a low 3-light window in the apex. The 5-bay aisles, with buttresses, moulded cornices and parapets with upstands between bays, have 2-centred arched 3-light traceried windows with linked hoodmoulds; and attached to the 1st bay of the west aisle is a 5-sided baptistery which has a one-light windows in each side and a tall polygonal roof. The clerestory of the nave has segmental-headed 3-light windows, and straight buttresses carried up as rectangular pinnacles which have panels of blind tracery. The transepts have coupled gables projected from pitched roofs at right angles to the axis of the nave, a 3-light traceried window in each gable, and on the south side of each an unusual shallow canted chapel with high-set fenestration and a tall saddleback roof. The sanctuary has blind arcading at mid level and above that a 2-centred arched 5-light traceried window. INTERIOR: 7-bay arcades with cylindrical columns and 2-centred arches, and lateral arches bridging the aisles; elaborate carved reredoses to altars in the sanctuary and both chapels. HISTORY: built by the brothers James and Roger Taylor, priests, who were members of a prosperous Fylde farming family, and donated to the diocese of Lancaster.

Listing NGR: SD3483528058