Roman Catholic Church of St Joseph

The Roman Catholic Church of St Joseph, Uppingham Road, Leicester was built between 1967 and 1968 by architect Thomas E. Wilson.

The church is planned as a circular drum approximately 80 feet in diameter, constructed of reinforced concrete and faced externally with buff-coloured Stamford stone brick. An 80-foot-high bell tower, faced with golden quartzite, sits on the Uppingham Road side and stands independent of the main building to avoid transferring its weight to the main structure. The tower is flanked by the main entrances, which are incorporated into a glazed timber enclosure with swept copper-covered roofs. The floor of the church is laid in Claytile and Granwood paving.

The structural frame and staircases are reinforced concrete. The balcony comprises reinforced concrete cantilever main beams with subsidiary steel beams and timber joists. The main columns form a circle of approximately 68 feet in diameter; reinforced concrete columns linked to the main frame are built into the cavity wall, bringing the overall diameter to 80 feet. Ancillary accommodation to the rear, attached to the main body of the church, is constructed in brickwork with handmade brown-grey facings.

The approach to the church is entirely paved, providing a large gathering area with tapering, stone-paved processional ways leading to the primary entrances and to two side entrances (leading to the side altars). Stone-paved areas also direct visitors around the exterior towards the adjacent Priest's house. At first-floor level a series of slit windows, graduating in length, are positioned on both sides of the circular form. Smaller rectangular windows encircle the drum at ground-floor level, beginning either side of the glazed timber enclosure. A clerestory is set back behind a plain parapet beneath a shallow-pitched roof. Simple sculptures depicting the disciples adorn vertical timber mullions on either side of the bell tower.

To the south-east (rear) of the church, a flat-roofed range built in brick fans out following the circular plan form. Along this range a central timber and glazed door is flanked on each side by regularly spaced timber casement windows under a flat fixed canopy, providing a covered walkway between the presbytery and the priest's sacristy. A porch has been added in the late 20th or early 21st century at the angle between the main body of the church and the single-storey range, providing access to the western side of the church. At a similar time a covered link was created to the 1950s church hall from a former rear entrance on the eastern side. The late 20th–early 21st-century porch, link to the church hall and the church hall itself are excluded from the listing as they are not of special interest.

The church is entered through the timber and glazed enclosure on either side of the bell tower. Through the main entrance, a curved glazed screen under a gallery forms a narthex with seating originally designed for parents with small children. A small square baptistery space, with a simple circular stone font, is positioned on axis with the tower and the high altar. The walls are of bare-faced brick with the concrete frame exposed. An inner ring of concrete columns, bush-hammered with a finish of local aggregate, supports the roof. The roof comprises varnished diagonal pine boarding between laminated beams, creating a concentric star formation radiating from a central acrylic dome that provides additional light to the centre of the church. The gallery front is fitted with vertical oak slats on a wrought iron frame to enable contouring.

Positioned on the gallery on axis with the sanctuary, tower and baptistery is an impressive modern organ with a traditional case built to high specifications and in keeping with the church architecture.

The sanctuary is raised on two polished stone steps and positioned on the circumference of the building. At the rear of the sanctuary is a low stone wall topped by a screen of timber verticals. The wall is part of the original design but was reduced slightly in height when the timber screen was added. Above the sanctuary on the rear wall, organ pipes flank a crucifix sculpture. This ensemble is highlighted in daylight hours by three vertical light tubes positioned externally between the parapet and the clerestory. Original timber seating radiates from the altar, with gallery accommodation above enabling the congregation to be as near to the altar as possible. Beyond the seating, stained glass added in 2002 gives the impression of the sun rising behind the font, radiating across the full width of the stairwell and providing dramatic light to the staircases. The sweeping curved staircases comprise reinforced concrete with simple brass handrails, emphasised by the corresponding rising and sweeping of the roof line (externally expressed with copper covering).

A concrete beam in the wall, fixed at balcony level, is recessed to allow stone facing as a string course which continues around the rear sanctuary wall. Seven Stations of the Cross, depicted as copper or brass relief plaques, are positioned on either side of the nave and illuminated by copper wall lights beneath.