Church Of St Anne, Fawley Court

St Anne's Polish Roman Catholic Church, Fawley Court

St Anne's Church was built between 1971 and 1973 to the designs of architect Wladislaw Tadeusz Jeorge Jarosz. It was commissioned under the patronage of Prince Stanislaw Albrecht Radziwill as a memorial to his mother, Anne, Princess Lubomirska (1881-1947), who died in a Soviet labour camp. The church also functions as a college chapel and serves the Congregation of Marian Fathers, a Polish religious community that has occupied the Fawley Court Estate since 1952. The church was dedicated in August 1971 and completed in 1973.

The building is constructed of red brick in both English bond and stretcher bond, with a laminated timber structural frame, tongue and groove boarding, steel plates and joints, and clear plate glass windows, all beneath a ribbed copper roof. The structural engineer was Taylor, Whalley & Spyra, the timber engineer was Rainham Timber Engineering Co Ltd, the contractor was AE Nunn Ltd, and the quantity surveyor was Cecil F Baker & Partners. The copper roof was installed by Robert Adlard & Co Ltd, and the tabernacle artwork and sculptural setting for the figure of St Anne was created by Maria and Andrew Bobrowski.

The church adopts an irregular polygonal plan, broadly wedge-shaped and narrowing to the east. To the west are a triangular crypt and narthex, whilst to the east lies an irregular worship space combining the nave and chancel, with an irregular sacristy and offices behind the altar. A chapel dedicated to Saint Faustyna sits to the north-east, with confessionals located at the south-west corner. An external altar stands on a raised plinth under a later polycarbonate canopy.

The exterior is of striking irregular form. The west entrance elevation comprises a low horizontal brick block providing access to the narthex and crypt, with decorative iron gates bearing eagle plaques representing the arms of the Radziwill family and the Polish Royal House—a black eagle with the Traby, a three-horns symbol, at its centre. Above this is a recessed brick wall with a crucifix and plain glazing divided into vertical panels, surmounted by an angled canopy with similar glazing to the west and centre. A large expanse of ribbed copper roof dominates the centre and south, terminating in a triangular glazed and brick south gable with a further setback glazed triangular gable at the roof's apex. The east elevation features a triangular brick gable under the copper roof with an irregular window at its apex and an offset cross to the south. The north side presents a low, flat-roofed projection forming part of the nave internally.

The striking interior combines timber and exposed brick, correctly oriented with the altar to the east. The roof features timber ribs and closely planked ceiling reaching almost to ground level, subtly lit by uplighters. The roof form and sparing use of modest glazing carefully direct natural light to fall on key areas including the sanctuary. Exposed brick walls feature throughout, particularly noticeable given their angular form as an altar backdrop and behind the statue of Saint Anne. The altar sits on a polygonal stepped brick platform, bringing it closer to the congregation. A small chapel to Saint Faustyna sits to the north of the altar. Access to the sacristy and offices is via a solid planked wooden door to the south of the altar, opening into a hallway with various small rooms and storage cupboards. The predominant material throughout is timber, though the reredos wall forms the west wall of the hallway. Glazed doors lead out to the external altar but are screened from view by a brick screen wall. Timber confessionals are positioned at the west end to the rear of the pews.

Fixtures and fittings include a marble statue of St Anne, Stations of the Cross in bronze affixed to the brick walls north of the confessionals, and memorial plaques on the south and north-west walls. Three large plaques on the north-west wall remain unfilled save for the patron Prince Stanislaw Radziwill. Additional plaques commemorate President John Fitzgerald Kennedy and Attorney General and US Senator Robert Francis Kennedy. The church contains simple wooden bench pews, altar and chapel tables, a large crucifix north of the altar, and a smaller crucifix affixed to the external wall by the narthex entrance—a simple wooden cross with a bronze Christ figure.

The church remains in use by the Polish Roman Catholic community. Prince Stanislaw Albrecht Radziwill (1914-1976), the founder and patron, is interred in the church crypt. Fawley Court, a Grade I listed mansion of 1684 reputedly by Sir Christopher Wren and refurbished and extended in 1884, was purchased by the Congregation of Marian Fathers in 1952 and served as Divine Mercy College, a boarding school for Polish boys, until its closure in 1986.