Church Of Our Lady Of The Sacred Heart And Presbytery

The Church of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart and Presbytery were built around 1885-6 by S.J. Nicholl, and are Roman Catholic buildings. They are constructed of rusticated ironstone with ashlar dressings and a plain-tile roof. The buildings are arranged around a north-south axis, comprising a nave, aisled chancel, transepts, a baptistry, and an attached two-storey and attic presbytery. The style is Perpendicular.

The church is single-storey, while the presbytery is two storeys with an attic. The east elevation features a three-window chancel range with three-light windows and two-stage buttresses. The transept has a large three-light window with a transom. The nave has a range of irregularly spaced two- and three-light windows. A plain corbelled cornice and ashlar gable parapets with finials and foliated kneelers run along the top. A gabled porch has a door with an ogee head and a window above a central statue. The west elevation mirrors the east, and the south gable has a large six-light window. The north gable has a central rose window with a moulded stone ogee surround and a blank two-light window above, with a similarly shaped head, all flanked by a pair of three-stage buttresses. The presbytery, to the right, features two projecting gables with an arched entrance between. A left-hand gable has an eight-light stone mullion window on the ground floor. Other windows are sash windows with glazing bars, set within moulded stone surrounds. The ground and first-floor windows to the right gable are united by a moulded stone surround. Ashlar gable parapets and a brick stack are present at the ridge. The rear of the presbytery is similar in design.

Inside, there is a two-bay chancel arcade with tall Perpendicular style arches. A large moulded stone canopy over the altar has an ogee-head arch with a rose window behind. The altar is marble, with a reredos. Chamfered arches, with foliated and corbelled capitals, lead to the transepts. The roofs are wooden barrel and trussed rafter style. A marble chancel rail, likely from the early 20th century, includes elaborate flanking statue niches and figures on the tie beam. The nave windows have niches holding statues. A stone pulpit incorporates niches and statues. The baptistry, to the left of the chancel, features a marble altar and a moulded stone font. Stained glass is present in the baptistry and rose windows, and is probably by Kempe.