Catholic Church Of St Mary And St John

WOLVERHAMPTON

SO9198SE SNOW HILL 895-1/14/309 (East side) 16/07/49 Catholic Church of St Mary and St John

GV II*

atholic church. 1851-5; enlarged east end, 1879-80. By Charles Hansom. Ashlar with slate roof. Decorated style. Apsidal chancel and flanking chapels and sacristy to south, nave with lean-to aisles and transepts. 3-bay chancel has flanking 3-bay apsidal chapels, all with gabled 2-light windows; chapel to north has 3-light east and north windows; single-bay outer chapel to north has 3-light north window; similar chapel to south masked by sacristy, which has gabled straight-headed windows to east. Transepts have 4 small gabled projections with lights under 4-light windows; 2-light west windows, north-west entrance. 5-bay nave has gabled buttresses and paired 2-light windows to clerestory. Aisles have gabled buttresses and 3-light windows; 2-light west windows; 2nd bay from west on south side has pointed entrance with large flanking buttresses, one with entrance: signs of projected tower. West facade has entrance of 2 orders, Crucifixion to tympanum over enriched paired doors, 6-light window above and flanking gabled buttresses; gable has Crucifix and flanking figures of SS Mary and John. INTERIOR: chancel has 3-bay arcades with rich foliate capitals, traceried parclose screens; vaulted roof on wall shafts; east end has stencilled patterns and rich cornice; chancel arch has hood mould and headstops. Inner chapels have pointed tunnel vaults, cut through for arcades; all chapels have double-chamfered arches to transepts. Nave has 5-bay arcades and higher arches to transepts with quatrefoil piers and rich foliate capitals; deep-arch-braced boarded roof with corbelled shafts and stencilling; west organ gallery with 2 traceried organ cases and overthrow. Fittings: High Altar and reredos enriched with niches and angels, end statues in pinnacled niches, tabernacle has throne above with pinnacle; traceried alabaster panels to altar rail; stone pulpit has traceried panels and relief angels. Chapels have altars except for outer north chapel, which has rich panelled octagonal font with smaller bowl to side. Good stained glass, particularly to east end, probably by Hardman; north aisle has monument to B.Clark (died 1916) with statue on plinth next to copy of famous seated statue of St Peter at St Peter's, Rome. A good example of a mid-Victorian Catholic church notable particularly for its rich interior fittings and the excellent naturalistic carving of corbels and capitals. (Shell County Guides: Thorold H: Staffordshire: London: 1978-: P.186; The Buildings of England: Pevsner N: Staffordshire: London: P.316).

Listing NGR: SO9160698206