Catholic Church of Our Lady and St Patrick

The Catholic Church of Our Lady and St Patrick is a Gothic Revival design, built in the 18th century. It is orientated north-east to south-west, with the liturgical east end facing southwest. The church is constructed of randomly coursed rock-faced granite with Bath stone dressings, and has a slate roof. Windows are largely paired and triple-light, foiled lancets, with plate tracery to the liturgical west end.

The church consists of an aisle-less nave of six bays, buttressed throughout. The sanctuary is set back from the nave, with tall, paired windows on both sides and a blank east (liturgical) wall. The liturgical west end of the nave is flanked by a projecting buttressed porch to the right and a polygonal baptistry to the left. The porch has a 2-light window in its gabled return, and recessed doorways with segmental heads and reeded jambs. A single window with a cusped head sits alongside a doorway in the main elevation. The liturgical west front features two bays articulated by side and central buttresses, with two orders of double windows with cusped heads, the upper windows being taller with quatrefoils. Above the central buttress is a cusped niche containing a statue of the Virgin and Child, supporting a corbelled and gabled bellcote with a bell. A single-storey sacristy is located to the southwest, with a gabled roof. A single-storey cloister connects the sacristy to the presbytery.

Inside, the narthex has a framed ceiling and a gallery above. A former baptistry is now a piety stall, and a gallery stair runs alongside. A timber and glazed screen separates the areas, partially obscuring a wall painting of the Pieta (Virgin Mary holding the dead body of Christ), which was created as a memorial to the Great War, likely by Hardman. Opposite this is a World War I memorial with painted Celtic lettering and detail on a board. The nave has an open, steep-braced scissor truss roof, plastered and painted walls, and oak benches. The sanctuary is raised two steps above the nave, with a steep arch leading to it and a corresponding blank arch against the rear wall. The ceiling is painted, possibly a remnant of a 1919 scheme. The ornate high altar, originally located further back, is now moved forward and is constructed of Yorkshire limestone with pillars of Connemara marble. The reredos and retable, in their original position, feature elaborate carved canopies, statues of St Benedict and St David, a central pinnacle, and a canopied Benediction throne over a brass tabernacle. Further altars are positioned to either side of the sanctuary arch, dedicated to Our Lady and St Patrick, with ornate carved foliage, canopies, and statuary. An octagonal baptismal font with simple carved cross detail is situated in front of St Patrick’s altar. The sacristy and confessional are located to the side of the chancel arch. Several late 20th century stained glass windows are by John Edwards and Hardman & Co., including the St Michael window.