Catholic Church of Christ the King

Church in the modernist vernacular style particularly associated with BDDP, developed in response to the landscape and climate of N Wales. Characteristic features of the style displayed here include low outlines, spreading roofs and a complex plan. A striking feature of the design is flexibility in response to fluctuating congregation size: the main space includes a hall which can be treated as an extension of the nave, and doors on the S side allow worshippers to participate in the Mass from outside.

Pitched roof with interlocking concrete tiles, honey coloured brick, timber framed large panel windows and doors. Rectangular plan but stepped out in three main blocks from east to west, with narrowest block at the east a mono-pitch, with horizontal timber panelling on its south side over ribbon window to sacristy. The projecting westernmost corner of the roof rests on a brick pillar rising from a low garden wall connected at its far end to a small mono-pitch shed in the same materials as the church. Long low roofs reaching down to chest height towards east on north side, with clerestory thrust above the main eaves line to give a clerestory over the sanctuary. Entrance and fenestration in long elevations, sheltered by projection of eaves.

Beside the entrance is a free-standing timber lattice tower with a large cross at its peak, high above the church, its three posts of varying height with bevelled tops sloping inwards, possibly inspired by the concrete spire of Clifton Cathedral, Bristol, completed in 1973 (LB 1271209).

Internal finishes of exposed pale brown brick, ceiling and longitudinal beams all clad in timber boarding. The interior is well lit from both long elevations and the clerestory, and has an informal domestic character, enhanced by the ability to link hall with nave.

Main entrance into hall via small narthex with slate holy water stoup. Carpeted nave incorporating wide tiled side aisle, with timber panelled side storage bays for removable seating set in lower slope of roof. Aisle lit by tall and narrow glazed panels at ground level on either side where the east wall steps out. Sanctuary not delineated spatially: it simply forms a tiled platform raised above nave by a single step. Font and altar are both on this platform: both have brick bases with polished Welsh slate above. Simple steel post lectern. Stations of the Cross set high on longitudinal beam that marks division between nave and aisle to the S.

Two timber posts and curtain rails serve to divide the hall from the nave when required. A planned partition wall within the confessional was never built but it has two entrances, one from rear of hall and another from passage. Passage from the entrance also leads to the sacristy, kitchen (with servery hatch to hall), boiler room and WCs.