Harlow New Town, Essex has a good selection of mid century churches. This is St Paul’s Church which is in the South end of the town centre. grade II listed which explains its good original condition. Town planning by Frederick Gibberd, Architecture & interiors / fittings by Derrick Humphrys & R W Hurst. Brick and concrete construction, copper roof and Spire. Separate bell tower with salvaged bells from a bombed church in London docklands. Completed 1959. Now hemmed in by rather ugly buildings, when the new town was completed it did have more open ground around it.
St Pauls Church
St Pauls Church
St Pauls Church
St Pauls Church
St Pauls Church
St Pauls Church
St Pauls Church
Our Lady of Fatima Church. It's the most impressive and largest of the New Town churches in Harlow. T shaped in plan and has a lovely tall thin copper covered Spire. Exposed concrete frame with brick infill. By Gerard Goalen, built 1958-60. It's a bit like Dr Who's Tardis as it feels bigger inside than it looks from outside. Probably due to the fantastic huge stained glass panels / walls. The glass is actually set in concrete panels rather than leaded. By Dom Charles Norris of Buckfast Abbey. Grade II listed and in excellent original condition. The windows were restored due to concrete cancer but to the original look. A really well looked after Church and well worth a visit. Much thanks to Father Leszek Gamracy for showing me round despite it being closed at the time
Our Lady of Fatima Church
Our Lady of Fatima Church
Our Lady of Fatima Church
Our Lady of Fatima Church
Our Lady of Fatima Church
St Thomas More Church. Love the simplicity of this small minimalistic Church in the Little Parndon neighbourhood. Has a Scandinavian feel about it. A frame roof structure which is only just off ground level at the East end. Triangular end walls subtly project like a Ships bow and are clad with crisply detailed brick sized yellow hanging tiles. Internally the simplicity continues with the dominant feature being the timber clad underside of the A frame roof. By Burles, Newton & Partners 1964-65.
St Thomas More Church
St Thomas More Church
St Thomas More Church
St Thomas More Church
St Andrews Methodist Church, The Stow: Reading Pevsner & Bettleys, Essex, discovered this was actually built as a church hall for an un-built church. Explains a lot as it’s very utilitarian with virtually no decoration. However I really like the exposed painted steel ceiling with blue panels, the chequerboard wall tiles up on the gallery and the patterned brick to the south facade externally. Apparently was paid for by the film maker Arthur J Rank who was a Methodist. Guess his pockets were not deep enough to pay for the church itself...Designed by Paul Mauger & Partners, 1952-1954.
St Andrews Methodist Church, The Stow.
St Andrews Methodist Church, The Stow