Roman Catholic Diocesan Seminary Chapel, Allen Hall

The Diocesan Seminary Chapel was built in 1959 to designs by Hector Corfiato, replacing an earlier chapel as part of the Allen Hall Seminary complex. Refurbishment works have been ongoing since 2013 and completed in 2015.

The chapel is constructed on a reinforced concrete portal frame clad in two-inch Matlock grey brick for both external and internal wall surfaces. The shallow-pitched roof is clad in copper.

The west elevation (facade) is dominated by a full-height grid of reconstituted stone below an overhanging roof. Stronger mullions divide the elevation into a wider central section and two narrower sections. The lintel over the central west door bears the inscription 'VENITE ADOREMUS'. Above it, a restored aluminium crucifix by Saupique has been returned to its original position.

The south elevation is entirely brick, apart from a band of small clerestory windows under the eaves. The sanctuary is lit by full-height vertical windows divided by a series of obliquely angled mullions positioned to throw light directly onto the original high altar. The north elevation is truncated over the adjoining building, though the mullions continue internally to maintain sanctuary symmetry. The east elevation is entirely blind, with a canted wall in a shallow V-projection that internally appears as an apse.

The interior plan is longitudinal with a central aisle flanked by narrow corridors in place of traditional side aisles. There is no narthex, but an organ gallery is located over a west porch. The downward-tapering ribs of the portal frame divide the interior into five nave bays and two sanctuary bays. The ceiling is shallow-pitched and painted with grey rectangular panels.

Below the raked organ gallery is a timber porch with small statues of Saint Thomas More and Saint John Fisher on either side. An oval marble font with a Latin inscription dated 1821 sits in front of the porch. Each nave bay has two rectangular stone-framed openings into the narrow, flat-roofed side aisles, which are lit by circular skylights. Between these openings are flush blue ceramic panels by Endre Hevezi depicting ecclesiastical symbols.

The sanctuary consists of a regular-sized bay with full-height grid windows to south and north. Beyond it is a flat-arched chancel arch leading to the four-sided canted apse. Above a dado zone, which retains the raking outline of the former high altar steps, are two vertical friezes incised with floral patterns, probably of fibrous plaster and created by Harry Warren Wilson. A temporary hanging crucifix is suspended from the chancel arch. The apse ceiling is flat with two-tone blue diagonal grid coffering. A copper tabernacle sits on a timber pedestal in front of the socket left by the former reredos, covered by a new panel in summer 2015. The current timber altar was made by a former student. The lectern is also of timber. Beneath the glazing strips at the north side of the sanctuary is a screen intended to provide a viewing gallery for sick sisters.

The foundation stone is set into the north side of the apse.